VACo Submits Comments to Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding after Inaugural Meeting
The Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding met for the first time on Monday, September 16 to organize and review recommendations from the 2023 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report on K-12 education funding. The work of this subcommittee is critical to moving forward with much needed funding reforms to the […]
Joint Subcommittee Reviewing Tax Preferences Considers Tobacco Taxes, Film Incentives
The Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences met on September 17. This body, which consists of legislators from the House Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee, as well as members of the Senate appointed upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, has a broad mandate to “oversee the […]
VACo Testifies and Submits Comments to Joint Commission on Technology and Science on Artificial Intelligence
The Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee met on Monday, September 16 to review proposed legislation concerning the use of high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) in both the private and public sectors. VACo staff presented testimony and then formal comments to the subcommittee with concerns of centralization of AI policy, impacts to […]
Joint Commission on Health Care Receives Briefings on Health Care Workforce and Hiram Davis Medical Center Closure
The Joint Commission on Health Care met on September 18 and received a briefing on the results of Commission staff’s study of the state’s health care workforce programs and a presentation from Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Commissioner Nelson Smith about the Department’s plans to address significant capital needs at Hiram Davis Medical […]
Money Committees Receive Updates on State Revenues, ARPA Spending
Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings briefed members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees on September 17 on state revenues and the economic outlook. He characterized August as a “quiet” month for state revenues, as the bulk of August revenues consist of income tax withholding and sales tax collections; September collections, which […]
County Feeding Ban Update as Formal Deer Hunting Season Begins
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) would like to remind all counties of the current prohibitions on the feeding of deer and elk. Feeding is unnecessary, can harm the digestive system of deer in some cases, often leads to increased conflict with people, and can create an overabundance of deer in an area. The […]
VACo County Pulse – Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch | Episode 3 | Mecklenburg County
Season 4 | 2024 Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 3 | Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar – Mecklenburg County | Part 1 Listen to the Podcast Part 1. Mecklenburg Experience with County Administrator Alex Gottschalk This 2-part episode was recorded on location in Mecklenburg County, which is […]
VACo Region 5, 9 and 11 Meeting Recap
VACo held its sixth of eight regional meetings for 2024 virtually on August 19th. Counties from VACo Regions 5, 9 and 11 attended the meeting. The meeting began with a welcome from VACo President and Albemarle County Supervisor, Ann Mallek. VACo was pleased to have Chandler Vaughan and Caroline Luxhoj from the Department of Housing […]
VACo County Pulse – Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch | Utility-Scale Solar
Season 4 | 2024 Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 2 | Utility-Scale Solar | Part 1 Listen to the Podcast Part 1. Utility-Scale Solar – Legislative Outlook with Dean Lynch In the first of a 2-part episode, Joe Lerch sits down with VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch to discuss […]
Public Body Procurement Workgroup Considers Draft Recommendations to Information Technology Access Act (ITAA) Bill
The Public Body Procurement Workgroup met on Wednesday, September 4 to finalize recommendations to HB 1355 (Tran). The workgroup’s recommendations significantly reduce the potential impact to local governments compared to the bill in its original form. VACo testified to concerns over the bill at a previous meeting of the workgroup and appreciates the work of […]
Visit Nottoway County and the Nottoway County Historic Courthouse
PHOTO SOURCE: Virginia Department of Historic Resources Location: 328 West Courthouse Road / Old Nottoway RoadBuilt: 1839 – 1843Style: Greek Revival / Roman RevivalArchitect: Branch H ElllingtonContractor: Branch H Elllington Description: The building faces east and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious grounds in the center of […]
Dinwiddie County Supervisor Dan Lee’s Heart and Liver Transplant Journey
It’s been this way for years at VACo events. Members of the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors walking together, eating together, and supporting each other. But at last year’s VACo Annual Conference, there was one member noticeably absent – Supervisor Dan Lee. Dan was at VCU Medical Center waiting for a heart and a liver […]
Workgroup Discusses Alternatives to State Hospitalization
A workgroup convened to evaluate and recommend alternative options for individuals with neurocognitive disorders and neurodevelopmental disabilities who may otherwise be admitted to state psychiatric hospitals continued its discussions last week. Legislation considered by the 2024 General Assembly directed the establishment of this workgroup; these companion bills (HB 888 (Watts) and SB 176 (Favola)) stemmed […]
VACo Writes Letter to DEA, FDA, and Virginia Congressional Delegation on Federal Regulatory Changes to Prescription Drug Box Program
VACo recently sent a letter to Administrator Anne Milgram of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Commissioner Robert M. Califf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation expressing concerns over federal regulatory changes association with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351 et seq. […]
VRS Reports Return of 9.9% and Hits Record High for the Fund
According to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), the Fund reported a 9.9% return, net of fees, on its investment portfolio for fiscal year 2024, ending the year with a market value of approximately $113.9 billion, a record high. “VRS executes its investment strategy and decisions keeping the best interests of VRS members, retirees and beneficiaries […]
VACo Submits Comments on OSHA’s Proposed New Emergency Response Standard for Fire Brigades – Formal Hearing Set for November
VACo recently submitted comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding its proposed rule to modernize protections for emergency response workers, who often face substantial occupational hazards. While VACo understands the need to update the standards, we are concerned that the proposed changes, in their current form, could have a substantial impact and […]