Richmond residents, groups appeal for city funding

Richmond residents and groups packed the City Council chamber last night to plead for funding from the city and relief from a proposed fee on nonprofits.

With Mayor Dwight C. Jones proposing a fiscal 2009-10 budget that is nearly $26 million less than this year's budget, more than 40 speakers appealed to the council.

The requests came on behalf of the Richmond school system, police officers and firefighters, as well as the Metropolitan Business League and tiny nonprofits.

With the city's help the past two years, the Neighborhood Resource Center in Fulton was able to expand its half-day preschool to a full-day program. Now, it serves 16 children with 16 others on a waiting list, co-director Mary Lou Decossaux said.

But no funding for it is included in the $629.6 million proposed budget, and Decossaux said she's not sure whether the program can continue.

Several speakers urged the council to support Jones' proposal and the Downtown Master Plan by setting aside $3 million for the purchase of parkland on the James River. Otherwise, the city risks disheartening residents who support the plan, as well as wasting money spent to prepare it, said Sheila Sheppard, coordinator of the Partnership for Smarter Growth.

Representatives of city-based nonprofits asked the council to at least move slowly on a charge to offset the costs for police, fire and trash-collection service. The fee could generate as much as $830,000 for the budget, depending on its start date.

Some predicted that the fee could prompt nonprofits, including cultural and arts groups, to shut down or leave the city for nearby counties.

"What will you promote if we have to close our doors?" asked Mary Jane Hogue, executive director of the Historic Richmond Foundation.

About 25 police officers stood in support for funding to cover pay-step increases for their ranks.

The Richmond Fire Fighters Association appealed for funding to pay overtime to firefighters to ensure that shifts are fully staffed.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .