RICHMOND, Va. — All five mayoral candidates took to the stage at Tuesday’s public debate.
The discussion, held at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC), was co-sponsored by Richmond First, VMHC’s John Marshall Center, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and WTVR CBS 6.
Moderator Greg McQuaid and panelists Bob Holdsworth, Chris Coates, and Reba Hollingsworth asked candidates Andreas Addison, Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett, and Harrison Roday 11 questions. did.
local news
Civic debate recap: Where Richmond mayoral candidates stand on key issues
The fifth discussion question was: Over the past five years, real estate valuations have exploded, but there has been no corresponding reduction in real estate tax rates. This has caused dissatisfaction among homeowners, raised costs for apartment renters and even effectively forced some longtime residents out of gentrifying neighborhoods. If you were mayor, would you pledge tonight to lower the city’s property tax rate to lower the cost of living for residents?
Michelle Mosby
I think it’s premature to say we’re going to commit to that tonight without being there and looking at every inch of the budget.
My focus is on examining the tax structure, and I am currently watching over the city as a member of that team. We are currently in collective bargaining. Collective bargaining still has a way to go.
I added Virginia Retirement Systems to my portfolio and added more money.
Diamond District is now online.
Now, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is transitioning, and the dollars that go to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund are part of the debt.
The time has come to assess the current situation before actually reducing the tax system.
But I’m determined.
We know the people of Richmond need relief, and we want to be able to provide that relief, but we want to do it in a way that allows us to provide exceptional service.
I am a firm believer that price is not an issue if you are getting excellent service and service.
andreas addison
Property tax has been one of the biggest things the government has debated over the past eight budgets I’ve been involved with.
Now, here’s the challenge.
There is a system in place where you will be penalized if you remain in your home when your neighbor is buying or selling their home.
We’ve seen household surveys that show that the racial gap in homeownership for Black people is disappearing at an alarming rate, and part of that is due to the government’s tax structure.
That’s why in 2019, I visited then-state Sen. Jennifer McClellan and urged her to add Richmond to the list of cities eligible for real estate tax reform. In 2022, City Council funded an implementation plan that created a roadmap for understanding how inspections and property taxation can be separated.
More importantly, it shifts our burden of balancing the budget from homeowners to focusing on new growth and, more importantly, the prosperity outlined in the Richmond 300 Master Plan. It’s a beautiful city.
I’m tired of taxing homeowners. Let’s focus on our vision for the future together.
Danny Avula
I think the biggest crisis facing our community right now is housing affordability.
In fact, in the 20 years I’ve lived in Richmond’s East End, I’ve seen home rents go up, property tax assessments go up, and many of my low-income neighbors are forced out of the neighborhood. This is why I decided to run for mayor.
I think it is absolutely necessary to consider reducing property taxes. We also need to ensure that tax relief is delivered in an equitable manner, prioritizing those who will suffer the most tax relief.
It appears that this decision will be made by Congress before any of us take office, but I am committed to working with Congress to ensure a balanced budget, regardless of what Congress decides. Please know that you are 100% committed to doing so.
Maurice Neblett
All of this is over budget, so we have a lot of experience here and should at least be able to predict.
I have supported Reva Trammell in forcing a reduction in real estate taxes. Because we believe we need relief. And that’s the first relief. We can do more.
I promise to bring it down to $1.08. The reason is that I have a way to generate more real estate income by using prefabricated houses to form micro-communities. The price range is less than $100,000, you can sell it for a market value of $175,000, and you can make a profit with 11,000 units. Approximately 800 million dollars.
Instead of relying solely on public support and property taxes, we need to create new sources of revenue.
harrison roday
The key question facing us is how to help the vast majority of Richmond residents who are renters and whose rents are rising, and homeowners whose property valuations are rising too quickly relative to their incomes. It’s about whether you do it.
I’m a strong proponent of a targeted approach.
I’m tired of seeing people paying over $1,000 a month to live in apartments with mold infestations and landlords who don’t do their jobs. I’m tired of hearing from my neighbors that because of these reviews, they don’t think they can live in the area I’ve called home for decades.
I support meaningful relief targeted at these individuals. A citywide tax break would unfairly benefit homeowners whose homes are worth more than $1 million and jeopardize core services.
Focus on helping those in need.
Learn more about the candidates
We summarize all discussion questions here.
Watch the full discussion here or on our YouTube channel.
CBS 6 interviewed each candidate prior to the debate. Its contents are as follows:
For more information on this year’s election and how to vote in Richmond or surrounding areas, check out WTVR’s Virginia Voter Guide.
You can check your voter registration here. The last day to register to vote is October 15th.
What are your hopes for Richmond’s next mayor? Let us know by emailing the CBS 6 newsroom.
Note: WTVR used AI software to transcribe the discussion and newsroom staff edited it for clarity.
EAT IT, Virginia Restaurant News and Interviews
