JLARC Reviews State’s System of Indigent Defense and Criminal Prosecution
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) received a report at its November 13 meeting on the results of a study of the state’s system of indigent criminal defense and prosecution of criminal cases. JLARC staff found that the state’s public defenders provide effective representation, but that workloads in public defenders’ offices have risen […]
Visit Isle of Wight County and the Isle of Wight County Historic Courthouse
Location: 17140 Monument Circle / Courthouse Highway 258Built: 1800 – 1801Style: Colonial RevivalArchitect: Major Francis BoykinContractor: Major Francis Boykin Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Isle of Wight to the south of the courthouse. The […]
Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay (LCI) Published for 2024-2026 Biennium
On November 27, Dr. Lisa Coons, State Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), released a memo publishing The Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay for the 2024-2026 biennium, which will begin on July 1, 2024. These figures are crucial to calculating the state share of projected school division payments for the […]
Commission on Youth Adopts Recommendations from 2023 Studies
At its meeting on November 20, the Commission on Youth adopted a series of recommendations from the two studies Commission staff undertook this year. Draft recommendations had been circulated for public comment earlier in the fall and VACo reported on the studies’ key findings and proposed recommendations in an earlier County Connections article. Adopted recommendations […]
Treasury Releases Interim Final Rule Proposing Changes to Definition of “Obligation” for ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund; Public Comments due December 20
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) in November providing additional flexibility in the definition of “obligation” for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) provided through the American Rescue Plan Act. The IFR was published in the Federal Register on November 20 and takes effect immediately, but Treasury is […]
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) approves FY 2025-2026 employer contribution rates for participating political subdivisions
At its November 16 meeting, the VRS Board of Trustees approved FY 2025-2026 employer contribution rates for participating political subdivisions. Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS), the VRS plan actuary, highlighted factors that influenced contribution rates, based on data from the June 30, 2023, valuations. As previously reported, odd year valuations determine employer contributions for […]
Behavioral Health Commission Reviews School-Based Mental Health Services, Behavioral Health Redesign
At the Behavioral Health Commission’s November 13 meeting, Commission members received a briefing on the results of a study of school-based mental health services directed by the 2022 Appropriation Act and adopted several recommendations stemming from that study. Members also received an update on the implementation of the state’s initiative to redesign behavioral health services […]
Joint Commission on Health Care Discusses Workforce Development, Local Health Departments
At its November 13 meeting, the Joint Commission on Health Care discussed the state’s health care workforce development programs and received an update on the workgroup convened by the Virginia Department of Health, at the Commission’s request, to prioritize recommendations from the Commission’s 2022 study of local health departments. Health care workforce programs: Reviewing and […]
VDSS Webinar on Proposed Alternative Allocation for State Administrative Funding (Part One)
At the direction of the State Board of Social Services, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has been developing a proposed alternative allocation method for state administrative funding to local departments of social services for staff and operations costs that would reflect local department caseloads, poverty, and local ability to pay. Ryan Kelly, Assistant […]
State EMS Advisory Board Holds Meeting with Updates Regarding Budget Shortfall and Ongoing Investigation
On November 17, the Virginia State EMS Advisory Board met in Richmond and among regular business, discussed several updates regarding reported financial irregularities and budget shortfalls in the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Updates provided by Acting Director of OEMS Cam Crittenden, State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton, and others indicated that OEMS programs […]
Visit Highland County and the Highland County Historic Courthouse
Location: 165 Main Street / Water StreetBuilt: 1847 – 1848 / 1947 – 1948Style: Greek RevivalArchitect: Robert Johnson / Daley CraigContractor: Robert Johnson / CW Barger Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Monterey. The north front has a large porch […]
“Money Committees” Hold Annual Retreats
The General Assembly’s “money committees” held their annual pre-session retreats last week, with the House Appropriations and House Finance Committees convening in Richmond on November 14 and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee meeting in Tysons from November 15-17. The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee extended its usual meeting schedule to provide additional orientation briefings […]
Join VDSS for Webinars on November 28 and December 11 on Proposed Alternative Allocation Method for Administrative Funding to Local Departments
At the direction of the State Board of Social Services, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has been developing a proposed alternative allocation method for state administrative funding to local departments of social services for staff and operations costs that would reflect local department caseloads, poverty, and local ability to pay. VDSS has conducted […]
Large Bridge Project Grants – Rolling Application
On September 27, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) opened the FY 2023 through FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Bridge Investment Program (BIP) – Large Bridge Project Grant opportunity. The NOFO was published on Grants.gov and can be accessed through the following link: BIP Large Bridge Project NOFO. Additional information on […]
November 30 deadline for Virginia counties to challenge broadband coverage maps: eligibility for $1.48 billion in infrastructure grants at stake
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released the Virginia Broadband Challenge Portal, as well as the speed test and reporting dashboard for the upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) Challenge Process. Under BEAD, more than $42 billion in federal funds will be disbursed to get more Americans fast and reliable […]
VACo Recognizes the Class of 2023 of the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program
RICHMOND (November 14, 2023)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) recognized the Class of 2023 – the inaugural graduating class of the revamped Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program – during VACo’s 89th Annual Conference. The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program consists of three core courses – budgeting; planning, land use, and infrastructure; and leadership. The program […]