Behavioral Health Commission Plans Course

The Behavioral Health Commission met on April 26 and again on May 17 to receive updates from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to discuss the Commission’s plan of work for the year.  The Commission was established as a permanent legislative entity in 2021, as a continuation of the Joint Subcommittee to […]

County Official Kitty Crow: Understand Your Liquidity

Director of Finance, Kitty Crow discusses how cashVest® by three+one® helped her office truly understand their liquidity. Being perfect is a high bar in any situation, let alone when it comes to the complexities of a municipal budget. That did not stop Chautauqua County, NY, from achieving a perfect 100 cashVest® score for the last […]

Join us for the Broadband Together Conference

On May 18-19, VACo in partnership with the Virginia Municipal League (VML) and the Broadband Association of Virginia (VCTA) will host the 2022 Broadband Together Conference at the Hilton Short Pump in Richmond. The event will be focused on efforts to expand broadband access and affordability in Virginia, updates for the FY 2023 Virginia Telecommunications […]

JLARC Adopts Workplan for 2022

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission adopted a plan of work for the remainder of the calendar year at its meeting on May 2.  Planned studies include several items of interest to local government, including an important study of K-12 funding for which VACo has provided information to JLARC staff. JLARC’s planned studies are […]

Visit Appomattox County and the Appomattox County Old Courthouse

Location: 297 Court Street / Virginia Avenue Built: 1892– 1893 Style: Greek Revival Architect: Hancock and Hardy Contractor: Hancock and Hardy Description: The building faces east and is a one story red colored brick structure. The east front has a large portico supported by four large white columns with the pediment having a round window. […]

Joint Commission on Health Care Holds First Meeting of 2022; Discusses Work Plan

The Joint Commission on Health Care held its first meeting of the year on April 27 to elect new leadership for the Commission and to discuss planned studies for the remainder of the calendar year.  Commission members selected Senator George Barker as the new chairman, succeeding Delegate Patrick Hope, and Delegate Robert Orrock as the […]

General Assembly Acts on Governor’s Amendments

The General Assembly reconvened on April 27 to consider the Governor’s amendments to legislation that passed during the 2022 regular session, as well as bills vetoed by the Governor.  The Governor recommended amendments to 114 bills to be considered on April 27, and vetoed 26 bills.  The General Assembly sustained all 26 vetoes, so those […]

Children’s Services Act Workgroup on Special Education Beginning to Formulate Recommendations

A stakeholder workgroup charged with examining the use of Children’s Services Act (CSA) funding to support special education needs, to include housing the funding and oversight of private special education placements at the Department of Education, is beginning to develop recommendations.  The workgroup was created by 2021 legislation that was introduced in response to a […]

Commission on Youth Adopts Work Plan for 2022

The Commission on Youth met on April 19 to receive updates on several aspects of the child welfare system and to adopt its plan of work for the remainder of 2022.  Commission members agreed to undertake four study projects: Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of Virginia’s juvenile detention centers: The genesis of this study is […]

Visit Amherst County and the Amherst County Courthouse

Location: 113 Taylor Street / 2nd Street Built: 1996 – 1997 Style: Modern Architect: Hancock-Fuqua-Robertson Inc. of Lynchburg Contractor: Sandy Pearce of Amherst Description The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Amherst. The east front has […]

Premier Partner Spotlight – The Berkley Group | Part 2

The Berkley Group | Part 2 Join Dean Lynch and Drew Williams, CEO, as they discuss the array of services provided by the Berkley Group. The Berkley Group is the go-to consultant for Virginia counties and their communities. For more information, please visit www.bgllc.net. What doors can we open for you? Watch the Premier Partner […]

Congratulations Valerie and Karie!

Congratulations! VACo’s Valerie Russell and Karie Walker completed the Virginia Society of Association Executives’ Meeting Planner Summit held March 24-25 at the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel. The event focused on analyzing contracts, fine-tuning networking skills, applying meeting planning skills with sponsors, and much more. Attendees also talked about current challenges, explored the importance of data, […]

State General Fund revenues post strong growth in March

Last week Governor Youngkin announced that state General Fund revenues had turned in a strong performance in March.  Despite a decline in February (largely attributable to comparisons to the previous year being skewed by issues of timing for tax refunds and certain revenue collections), revenue collections on a fiscal year-to-date basis have grown by 14.5 […]

GMU’s Regional Elected Leaders Initiative Overview of Spring 2022 Governance Webinars

GMU’s Regional Elected Leaders Initiative Overview of Spring 2022 Governance Webinars Co-sponsored by VACo and VML Friday, May 6: Noon –1:15 pm Webinar #1: NOVA Effectively Managing Council/Board Meetings: Handling Contentious Issues and Potential Disruptions Speakers: Hon. Babur Lateef, Chair, Prince William School Board Hon. Phyllis Randall, Chair, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Hon. David […]

Premier Partner Spotlight – cashVest® by three+one® | Liquidity Analysis

cashVest® by three+one® | Liquidity Analysis cashVest® by three+one® harnesses data to maximize the value of every dollar through the power of liquidity analysis. Dean Lynch and Beau Blevins discuss cashVest’s impact on counties and how this “Best Practice” in liquidity management has returned 500+million to the communities they serve. Watch the Premier Partner Video

Governor Announces Amendments and Vetoes

On April 11, Governor Youngkin released his remaining amendments to legislation passed by the 2022 General Assembly, as well as his vetoes of 25 bills (the Governor had previously announced one veto).  The Governor made amendments to 114 bills (the legislature previously accepted the Governor’s amendments to two other bills prior to the conclusion of […]