Grocery Tax Legislation Returns
HB 1484 (McNamara) and SB 850 (Suetterlein) propose to eliminate the 1 percent local option sales and use tax on groceries and essential personal hygiene products, effective July 1, 2023. Under the bills, the state would backfill lost revenue in the form of a supplemental school payment. Beginning July 1, 2023, and until July 1, […]
School construction financing bills to be heard in Senate Finance and Appropriations tomorrow
On Wednesday, January 17, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee intends to meet at 9 a.m. and take up two bills supported by VACo pertaining to school construction financing. SB 1408 (McClellan & McPike) would permit any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if […]
Legislation proposes significant change to valuation of business personal property and machinery and tools
HB 1402 (March) proposes a major departure from longstanding tax policy by requiring tangible personal property that is employed in a trade or business, and machinery and tools, to be valued according to the federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), which is a method of recovering the costs of business or income-producing property through […]
VACo supports local regulation of speed limits bill
HB 1939 (Plum) would allow the governing body of any locality to reduce to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour, the speed limit of highways that are part of the primary and secondary state highway systems. The bill further states that these roads must be in a […]
Emergency medical services bills with liability concerns tabled or altered to address VACo concerns
On January 13, the House Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee’s Subcommittee #1 voted to table HB 1472 (Fowler) by a vote of 6-4. This bill would deem emergency medical services “essential,” but it would also change existing code language that currently requires local governments to “seek to” provide emergency medical services to a mandate that […]
VACo Supports Bills Extending Annexation Moratorium
HB 1676 (Hodges) and SB 1185 (Lewis) extend the moratorium on city annexations until 2032. Counties provide the same type of urban services (such as police, transit, water, and sewer services) that independent cities do. This makes city annexation of county land problematic, particularly because it results in the erosion of the necessary tax base […]
Several Constitutional Amendments Under Consideration, Including Proposed Elimination of “Car Tax”
Several Constitutional amendments have been introduced this session, as this year is the traditional beginning of the two-year Constitutional amendment process. Any Constitutional amendments that pass this year would need to pass in identical form again in 2024 before being placed on the ballot in November 2024. HJ 462 (Anderson) is a Constitutional amendment that […]
Helpful legislation on jail funding introduced
SB 966 (Peake) provides that the state must compensate local jails for the actual cost of incarcerating state-responsible offenders, as calculated in the Compensation Board’s annual Jail Cost Report. VACo supports this legislation. Currently, in addition to state support for jail staffing provided through the Compensation Board, the state provides a per-diem payment to assist […]
Visit Craig County and the Craig County Historic Courthouse
Location: 303 Main Street / Court StreetBuilt: 1851 – 1852Style: Greek RevivalArchitect: Scuyler W SmithContractor: Stokes Pusey & Company of Roanoke County Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of New Castle. The southeast front has a large […]
Supervisors Certification Past Graduates
Supervisors Certification Past Graduates 2021 PRESS RELEASE GRADUATES Belinda D. Astrop | Greensville County Leslie E. Ayers | Rockbridge County | Photo Juli E. Briskman | Loudoun County James R. Brown | Greensville County William B. Cain | Greensville County Pam L. Carter | Augusta County Tony M. Conwell | Greensville County Cheryl L. Cullers […]
Governor Youngkin Outlines Priorities in State of the Commonwealth Address
Governor Youngkin outlined his priorities for the 2023 General Assembly session in his State of the Commonwealth address to the General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, reiterating his pledge to accelerate efforts in economic competitiveness, education, public safety, and behavioral health, among other priorities. The Governor welcomed three new members of the legislature who were elected […]
Key Dates for the 2023 General Assembly
As part of its organizational work on the first day of the 2023 session, the General Assembly adopted a procedural resolution on January 11 that sets out important dates and deadlines for the 2023 legislative session. January 11: General Assembly convened at noon. Bills that were “prefiled” were due to be submitted by 10 a.m. […]
2023 General Assembly Convenes – Look for Capitol Contact on Tuesdays and Thursdays
The 2023 General Assembly session convened on January 11 setting the stage as legislators will deliberate on many issues of critical importance to local government, including the state budget, broadband, education funding, economic development, public safety, taxes, and other policy matters. VACo will continually provide updates during the session through Capitol Contact. Capitol Contact will be […]
Visit Clarke County and the Clarke County Historic Courthouse
Location: 104 North Church Street / East Main Street Built: 1837 – 1838 Style: Roman Revival Architect: David Meade Contractor: D H Allen, Magistrate and County Commissioners Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored Flemish-bond brick structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of […]
ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN FOREST SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING AWARDED TO 68 LOCALITIES ACROSS VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has announced the awardees for the 2022 Forest Sustainability Fund. One million dollars will be distributed proportionately to 68 Virginia localities to partially offset the reduced real estate tax revenue that results from forestland use taxation. The localities will be able to use these funds for […]
Governor Youngkin Proposes Amendments to 2022-2024 Biennium Budget
Governor Youngkin presented his proposed amendments to the biennium budget last week to a joint meeting of the House Appropriations, House Finance, and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. In his remarks to the Committee members, the Governor summarized his proposals as “going faster and getting more done,” and stressed the need to accelerate work to […]