VACo Opposes Waterworks Reporting Bill – Sovereign Immunity Concerns
HB 2407 (Scott, P.A.), as introduced, would require waterworks to report any operational anomaly, regardless of severity, that could affect water quality, public health, or service continuity to the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water (the Office) within 24 hours of discovery. This would include instances of pump failures, equipment malfunctions, unusual odors, […]
Public Notice Bill Problematic
VACo opposes SB 876 ( Ebbin), as introduced, regarding public bodies inability to act on amended agenda items until a later meeting. The bill expands current notice information required of Public Bodies providing that the notice shall include a proposed agenda listing all items expected to be considered by the public body at the meeting […]
VACo Analysis of Governor’s Introduced Budget Amendments
Governor Youngkin presented his proposed amendments to the 2024-2026 biennium budget on Wednesday, December 18. As VACo reported in its initial review, the Governor had good news to share with the “money committees,” noting that the overall health of the state’s economy and strong revenue collections in the first part of the fiscal year warranted […]
Visit Prince George County and the Prince George County Historic Courthouse
Location: 6604 Courthouse Road / Administration Drive Built: 1882 – 1883 Style: Greek Revival Architect: F.B. Leavenworth Contractor: J. Chappall Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Prince George to the south of the courthouse. […]
VAcorp’s Stephanie Heintzleman Retires
We all know Stephanie Heintzleman. We talked to her at Regional Meetings. We mingled with her at the Annual Conference. We saw her at the County Officials’ Summit and other events. Stephanie has been a big part of VACo – spanning all the way back to 1987 when she started her career at Charlotte County. In […]
VCU Review and Assessment of the Sufficiency of Fire and Medical Services Report Released
A recent report presented by Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Public Policy provides an independent third-party confirmation of what many in local government already know to be true: localities struggle to fully fund fire and rescue services across the state, especially in rural areas with declining populations. The confluence of current restrictions on funding sources, […]
I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan Updates
Members of the I-81 Advisory Committee from across the Commonwealth gathered in Lexington on December 13, 2024 to discuss the status of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan (the Plan). The role of the Committee is to advise or make any recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) regarding the Plan. The meeting was positive in […]
General Assembly Convenes, Adopts Schedule for 2025 General Assembly Session
The 2025 General Assembly convened under unusual circumstances yesterday, amid widespread water outages in the City of Richmond resulting from failures at the City’s water treatment plant during a snowstorm earlier in the week. In order to minimize time spent by legislators, staff, and the public in buildings without running water, the legislature convened on […]
Look for Capitol Contact on Tuesdays and Thursdays during 2025 General Assembly Session
The 2025 General Assembly session convened on Wednesday, but we’ll have to wait until Monday for legislators to deliberate on the many issues of critical importance to local government, including the state budget, taxes, education funding, economic development, public safety, broadband, and other policy matters. VACo will continually provide updates during the session through Capitol Contact, […]
Governor Presents Proposed Amendments to Biennium Budget
Governor Youngkin presented his proposed amendments to the 2024-2026 biennium budget to the “money committees” on December 18, telling legislators that “Virginia is roaring,” with a healthy economy that supports an upward adjustment to the revenue forecast. The Governor touted a series of achievements, thanked the legislature for its partnership, and encouraged members to build […]
Visit Prince Edward County and the Prince Edward County Historic Courthouse
Location: 124 North Main Street / High Street Built: 1939 – 1940 Style: Colonial Revival Architect: Hinnant & Smith Contractor: Farmville Manufacturing Company Description: The building faces northwest and is a three story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Farmville. The northwest front has […]
Meet the Man Behind the Santa in Botetourt County….
It’s the holiday season in Botetourt County which means we all look for opportunities to spread cheer, sprinkle kindness, and have a little bit of that Christmas Magic. Part of the magic of this time of year is a visit from a jolly old elf from the North Pole. We will get to that […]
Final Meeting of Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding for 2024
The Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding met for the final time this year on December 9 to review cost updates and near-term recommendations related to the 2023 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report on K-12 education funding as well as strategies for special education. These included further discussion of further […]
VACo Testifies at Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council Meeting on Public Safety Issues
At the December 4 meeting of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory (FOIA) Council, VACo staff testified requesting consideration that a workgroup be convened in 2025 to investigate the relationship between FOIA and public safety issues. This issue was brought to VACo’s attention at the Board of Directors Meeting at the November Annual Conference by […]
Virginia Minimum Wage Set to Increase January 1, 2025
The Virginia Minimum Wage will increase from $12.00 per hour to $12.41 per hour, effective January 1, 2025. This increase ensures compliance with § 40.1-28.10(F) of the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) has issued a formal letter to Virginia employers (see here) and posted notification on their website. As previously […]
Behavioral Health Commission Adopts Recommendations for 2025 Session
At its final meeting of the year, the Behavioral Health Commission adopted a series of recommendations for legislative and budget action in the upcoming legislative session, while also receiving a series of reports requested during the 2024 session as part of the Commission’s monitoring and oversight role. Several adopted recommendations stemmed from studies conducted by […]