Smith Appointed Interim Chief of Police for RPD

The administration of Mayor Levar M. Stoney today appointed current Richmond Police Department Acting Chief William C. Smith to serve as Interim Chief of Police following the retirement of Chief Alfred Durham on Dec. 31.

Smith, 50, began his law enforcement career with RPD in 1995 and has risen through the ranks of the department over a 23-year career. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1998, lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2007 and major in 2016. Smith was recently promoted to Deputy Chief and then designated as Acting Chief of Department by Chief Durham.

“Chief Smith is an experienced law enforcement professional who brings a sense of duty and an analytical approach to his work,” said Mayor Stoney. “He understands the unique demands and responsibilities of this important job, and I have confidence in his ability to manage the Richmond Police Department during this transition period.”

Chief Smith will run the department until a permanent chief of police is selected. Prior to his most recent promotion, Chief Smith served as Chief of Staff for the Richmond Police Department (2017), ran Business Services (2016-2017), and the Special Operations Division (2011-2016). He also commanded the Third Precinct (2009-2011) and supervised the Division of Emergency Communications (2007-09).

Chief Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond, as well as the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston.

“I’m grateful to Mayor Stoney and Chief Administrative Officer Selena Cuffee-Glenn for this opportunity to lead,” said Chief Smith. “I look forward to continuing the important work of the Richmond Police Department as a community policing organization.”

Mayor Stoney Presents Plan to Fully Fund Richmond Public School Facilities Plan

Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced today he will submit to city council a plan that fully funds the Richmond Public Schools $800 million capital plan over the next 20 years.

The mayor’s plan constitutes the city’s response to the requirements of a 2017 voter-approved charter change referendum passed by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year, which set a December 31 deadline for the administration to either present a school facilities plan that does not raise taxes or declare that it was not achievable.

The mayor’s school funding plan:

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• Successfully provides $800 million of school capital investment over 20 years;
• Does not rely on any real estate tax increase;
• Includes $150 million of school capital investment funding based on the recently enacted 1.5% meals tax that is dedicated to Schools;
• Allows for full compliance with all of the city’s existing Debt Policy Guidelines;
• Provides significant capital funding for general non-school projects over the same 20-year time frame;
• Relies on 2% growth in the city’s debt service budget commencing in FY 2024, a rate that is below that of historic inflation and is a fraction of the city’s recent growth in taxable real estate assessed valuation.

“Starting with our $150 million investment in school facilities earlier this year, I’m proud that we were able to identify a path to fund the remaining capital plan for RPS, so we can get as many kids as possible into 21st Century schools as soon as possible,” said Mayor Stoney.

The School Capital Funding Plan would provide $150 million in the first five years, $200 million in the following five years, $212.2 million in the next five years, and $237.8 million in the following five years after that, totaling $800 million for school capital investments over 20 years.

“While education is our number one priority, this plan does not abandon our neighborhoods and streets,” the mayor continued. “There remains sufficient debt capacity to tackle other infrastructure needs and other capital improvements over the next 20 years.”

“Make no mistake, this plan is a floor, not a ceiling for what we must do for our schools. “There is still much work to be done to change the outcomes for our kids inside the classroom,” Mayor Stoney continued. “On the state level, localities across the Commonwealth, like Richmond, need General Assembly lawmakers to step up and fund the true cost of public education. And locally we must continue to grow our economy and our revenues to accelerate and expand funding of our priorities.”

The Mayor’s plan does not rely on the proposed Navy Hill Development for any of its debt capacity or funding. But an analysis of the school funding plan by the city’s financial advisors, Davenport & Company, concludes that were the project to be undertaken, significant revenue producing growth downtown could accelerate the funding plan by as many as five years – resulting in savings in reduced debt service costs.

Details of Mayor Stoney’s school facilities funding plan are outlined in a memorandum by the Department of Planning and Budget and the Davenport analysis, which can be found below.

Memorandum
Davenport Analysis

A resolution was submitted to city council today for introduction on January 14^th.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney Statement on Governor Northam's Proposed New Investments in K-12 Education

Just three days after students, families, education advocates and elected leaders from across the commonwealth marched to the Virginia Capitol to demand more funding for K-12 public education, Governor Ralph Northam announced over $278 million in new education investments, including raising teacher pay, and increased funding for Virginia’s At-Risk Add-On and Supplemental Lottery Per Pupil Allocation.

“I’m glad to see Governor Northam is listening to the concerns of students, families and localities across Virginia demanding more state funding for education,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “This is a significant step toward getting our students and teachers the support they need and deserve, but we still have more work to do. We need to make our voices heard in January to protect these investments and continue fighting for our students. More money means better schools and stronger students.”

Click here to read Governor Northam’s announcement

Mayor Levar M. Stoney Statement Regarding Ordinance 2018-297

“Given the magnitude of the proposed Navy Hill project, I fully support an enhanced public process seeking to engage, inform and solicit input and advice from all citizens and members of the community. My administration is prepared to assist Council in hosting as many public meetings as they deem necessary to solicit public input and answer questions about the project. One in each council district would seem completely appropriate to me.

“I also encourage Council to seek independent experts in relevant fields to review the proposal, and advise council at their relevant committee and full Council meetings, so that the entire community can benefit from their perspectives. The Honorable Members of City Council are the nine persons chosen by the citizens to serve as members of the city’s governing body; to review legislation and to make decisions regarding Richmond’s future.”