May 17, 2025

I received an unexpected 2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bill, what should I do now?

Last week, the City’s Department of Finance issued “2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bills” to residents. These bills accurately reflect what taxpayers owe. However, for taxpayers who hold mortgages, these bills are typically sent to the mortgage lender to be paid on their behalf. Last week, that normal process did not happen and several thousand taxpayers were issued their bills directly.

What happened?

While importing new taxpayer data provided by mortgage lenders — a process which occurs twice per year — at least 33,000 taxpayer records failed to import completely. These records lacked the data necessary to link taxpayers to their mortgage lenders which resulted in many residents directly receiving real estate tax bills that typically are sent to lenders.

MUNIS, the system that runs the real estate billing process, was upgraded to a new version mid-cycle this year. The first-half billing, running on the outdated system, ran successfully. The Department of Finance is working with the team from MUNIS to diagnose what happened during the second-half billing process.

The Department of Finance will reimport this data, and, once that is completed, checked, and verified, they will issue real estate tax bill to mortgage lenders.

How will you keep this from happening again?

The Department of Finance team is working with the MUNIS vendor to investigate the root cause of this issue. Once diagnosed, Finance will rollout additional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training to all staff involved in the real estate tax billing process. If necessary, technical updates may be applied to the MUNIS system.

New SOPs and review processes will be created for all external communications from the Department of Finance — not just real estate tax billing.

What do I need to do?

If you received an unexpected "2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bill" and your mortgage lender typically pays your real estate tax bill on your behalf, you can contact your lender and ask how to make sure your bill gets paid.

If you typically receive and pay your own real estate tax bill, you should do so before June 16.

What if I already paid the bill and then my lender pays the bill, too?

The Department of Finance will credit your account. Taxpayers can request a refund, and you can check your account balance online or by calling 311.

What if I normally get a bill?

If you normally get a bill for real estate tax — most likely because you do not have mortgage lender — you can pay the bill as normal.

What if I don't own the property that I'm getting a bill for?

If you have an online account, log in and cancel your electronic fund transfer. If you need additional assistance, please contact 311.

What if I didn't get a bill?

You should log into your online account, or contact 311 if you need additional assistance.

When are real estate tax bills due?

Real estate tax payments are due to the City of Richmond on June 16. While the Department of Finance anticipates issuing bills to mortgage lenders within the coming days, taxpayers can contact their lender to ensure their bill is successfully paid.

I still have questions, who can I contact?

Individuals with additional questions can call 311 for more information.

Posted May 16, 2025

~ No art experience needed – just your time, energy, and love for Richmond ~

RICHMOND, VA – The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), a division within the Department of Public Works (DPW) invites volunteers to join them for a Community Paint Day on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The event offers residents a hands-on opportunity to contribute to a public art piece that also serves a larger purpose: improving transportation safety.

The mural is a key element in a traffic calming project designed to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety near Linwood Holton Elementary School. The artwork, inspired by the creative visions of Linwood Holton students, has been arranged into a cohesive mural by Sam Skrimpz, resident artist with the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility.

Painted directly onto portions of the street that are not intended for vehicle traffic, the mural acts as a colorful visual cue to alert drivers that they are entering a pedestrian oriented space. Street murals have been shown to help slow traffic, create a sense of place and enhance community-rooted safety culture.

The project was shaped by extensive community input gathered through the Richmond Connects outreach process, which identified local safety priorities. The mural and associated improvements are part of a broader effort to create more equitable, accessible, and vibrant public spaces across Richmond. “This mural is more than just art—it’s a tool for safety and a symbol of community collaboration,” said Dironna Clarke, DPW Deputy Director. “By inviting residents to help paint it, we’re giving them a chance to take part in shaping a safer, more connected neighborhood.”

Volunteer sign-up required, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054EACAD29AAF4C52-56805052-community

Event Details:

Who: Richmond Department of Public Works and the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility

What: Street Art Mural Installation by Community Volunteers | Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Project (LQC)

When: Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road, near Linwood Holton Elementary School

Why: The purpose of the Community Paint Day mural installation is to enhance pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver safety at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The mural will serve as a visual traffic-calming tool, encouraging driver to slow down and look for people on foot and on bikes. Beyond improving safety, the project also aims to promote community involvement by giving residents a direct role in shaping their public spaces. This initiative reflects priorities identified through the Richmond Connects outreach process.

For more information on the LQC program and the Richmond Connects Plan, please visit https://www.rva.gov/public-works/lqc

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The Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) Program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

In just the second quarter of this year, AmeriCorps members have provided services to more than 8,000 Richmond residents. Over 6,500 of those individuals reported an increase in health knowledge and access to resources critical to improving their quality of life.

For nearly two decades, Richmond’s AmeriCorps program has been a cornerstone of civic engagement and community support. From repairing homes for vulnerable residents and supporting early childhood literacy, to preparing high school students for postsecondary education and offering Peer Recovery Coaching and Community Health Worker services, the program has addressed a broad range of community needs. It has also played a key role in maintaining the city’s parks, trails, and public spaces.

Despite federal setbacks, the City of Richmond remains committed to service, workforce development, and community impact. The city will continue working with partners and funders to withstand the AmeriCorps program through the challenges ahead.

Posted May 13, 2025

~ Reminder: current permits expire on June 30 ~

RICHMOND, Va.  – New parking decals for residents of the Fan Restricted Parking District are on sale. They cost $25 each and are limited. Both mail-in and in-person renewal options are available for qualifying residents. The current Fan parking permit expires June 30, 2025.

Residents must display the Fan permit on their cars to park more than one hour from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and, also on West Avenue, parts of Boyd and Birch Streets, and the 1600 and 1800 blocks of West Grace Street, the regulation is one hour from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Sunday.

A resident is either the residing owner of record or renter of property located within the Restricted Parking District. A City of Richmond Residential Parking Permit Application must be completed and approved prior to decal issuance. To enable the Department of Public Works to verify residency, the following information and photo identification must be provided:

• Residential property owners must provide either a copy of their real estate bill or other information that verifies ownership of the property
• Renters must provide a valid written lease for the property in the Fan Parking District, and have the appropriate approval of the property owner on the application they present

A resident of the district is defined as an owner of record or renter of property in the district and members of their immediate family who reside with the owner or renter at the address in the district:

(1) Who are licensed drivers, and

(2) Whose domicile is the address for which they are seeking to obtain the parking permit

Annual Visitor Passes also are available and limited to two per house or building address at a cost of $35 each.

Annual Visitor Passes must be purchased at the same time the Fan permit is purchased and are restricted to residential homeowners.

Property owners and renters are required to comply with the residency requirements and the motor vehicle registration requirements of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Residents can get more information, verify residency in the Fan Parking District and purchase a permit through the online portal at: https://www.rva.gov/public-works/parking-enterprise

Fan decals and applications are also available at:

• City Hall
• 900 East Board Street, Room 102
• Richmond, Virginia 23219

The office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For additional details, please use the 3-1-1 mobile app or online portal at www.RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

We’re Social! For updates on projects, activities and events visit us on X @DPW_RichmondVA

Posted May 9, 2025

~ Daily promo codes available on social media to the first 50 riders unlocking a free 45-minute ride ~

RICHMOND, VA – In celebration of National Bike to Work Week, May 12 – 18, RVA Bikeshare is inviting residents to ditch the car and hop on a bike! Each day during the week, RVA Bikeshare will post a new promotional code on its X and Instagram accounts. The first 50 riders to redeem the daily code will unlock a free 45-minute ride. Riders need to be registered with the program to be eligible to use the code.

This special promotion celebrates eco-friendly commuting and provides Richmonders with a fun, healthy way to bike to work, run a quick errand or take a scenic ride around the city.

Follow RVA Bikeshare on social media to get the daily promo code (posted each day during the week of May 12 -18):

• Instagram: @rvabike_share
• X: @rvabikeshare

RVA Bikeshare currently operates 20 self-service stations across the city and a fleet of electric bikes. They provide a crucial multimodal link for many Richmond residents, serving as a reliable first-and-last-mile solution in their daily commutes.

RVA Bikeshare is a program of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, a division of the Department of Public Works. To learn more about RVA Bikeshare or explore membership options, visit rvabikes.com

For more information on the Department of Public Works, go to rva.gov/public-works

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1