VACo’s Chris McDonald Gives Guest Lecture to Virginia Tech Policy Implementation Class
VACo Director of Government Relations, Chris McDonald, was recently invited to deliver a guest lecture to a Virginia Tech Policy Implementation class. The class is a part of the Environmental Policy and Planning major at Virginia Tech and features approximately 20 students who plan to embark on careers in public policy and government. Chris spent […]
Virginia Retirement System Board Adopts Updated Liability Assumptions and Provides Employer Updates in May Employer News Bulletin
On April 20, the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Board of Directors met and reviewed economic and demographic assumptions, actuarial methods, and funding policies providing gain/loss analysis over the prior four years as well as cost impact analysis of any proposed changes. The VRS plan actuary, Cavanaugh Macdonald Consulting, LLC, presented the provided recommendations and cost […]
Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) Releases Draft FY 2022 Guidelines – Comments Due May 17, 2021
On April 27, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the draft guidelines proposed for the FY2022 round of VATI funding. VATI is a state managed program that provides financial assistance to local governments to partner with and supplement construction costs by internet service providers to extend […]
Virginia Employment Commission Unemployment Insurance Fraud Info
The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is providing the following information regarding unemployment insurance fraud that may be of interest to county governments and their employees. While the VEC is committed to ensuring unemployment benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them, unfortunately fraud does occur. The current worldwide pandemic has resulted in an […]
VACo County Pulse Legislative Series | Episode 3
Welcome to the VACo County Pulse Legislative Series Episode 3 – School construction and modernization In this third episode – VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch talks with VACo Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jeremy Bennett about school construction and modernization, dedicated local revenue raising authority, and the impact on Virginia’s counties. Click here to watch Episode […]
VACo County Pulse Legislative Series | Episode 2
Welcome to the VACo County Pulse Legislative Series Episode 2 – An update on Virginia’s county cigarette tax VACo has decided to retire the VACo County Pulse Podcast, which had a nice run for nearly two years and 30 episodes. Thank you to our many listeners for supporting the podcast that started in 2018. In […]
5th Step on the Pathway to Recovery®
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Treasury Releases Direction to Counties in Preparation for Fiscal Recovery Funds Distributions
On April 15, Treasury provided direction to counties and other entities that will be receiving Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds directly from the federal government as to steps that should be taken in advance of the release of funds. The guidance may be found at this link: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-fund – the guidance is listed […]
Welcome to the VACo County Pulse Legislative Series
VACo has decided to retire the VACo County Pulse Podcast, which had a nice run for nearly two years and 30 episodes. Thank you to our many listeners for supporting the podcast that started in 2018. In place of the podcast, we will now produce a VACo County Pulse Legislative Series. In this first episode […]
Visit Gloucester County and Machicomoco State Park
On April 26, 2019, the Board of Conservation and Recreation recommended, and DCR’s director approved, the name Machicomoco State Park for a future state park at the property also known as Timberneck Farm. As part of the proposed Surry-Skiffes Creek Transmission Line Project memorandum of agreement (MOA) mitigation stipulations, funding was provided for land acquisition, […]
Introducing a New Premier Partner – End to End Computing
General Assembly Approves Majority of Governor’s Amendments at Reconvened Session
The Governor’s amendments largely met with legislative approval at the April 7 reconvened session, as legislators accepted all of the Governor’s 18 amendments to the state budget and agreed to the amendments proposed to 32 of the 36 bills with gubernatorial recommendations. VACo provided an overview of the Governor’s amendments in the April 6 edition […]
State General Fund Revenues Demonstrate Continued Strength in March as Economy Improves
Governor Northam announced two pieces of positive economic news for the Commonwealth last week as the state released March revenue figures showing continued growth in the state’s major revenue sources, as well as updated unemployment statistics reflecting progress in regaining jobs lost to the pandemic. State and national figures suggest that the economy continues to […]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION HONORS ERIN C. WARD
PRESENTED 2021 A. ROBERT CHERIN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DEPUTY OR ASSISTANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY Erin C. Ward (center), pictured with LGA President Lola Rodriguez Perkins (left) and Fairfax County Attorney Elizabeth D. Teare (right). Erin C. Ward, Fairfax Deputy County Attorney, was selected for the prestigious Local Government Attorneys of Virginia (LGA) A. Robert Cherin […]
CDC issues new COVID-19 guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting workplaces
On April 5, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides this summary of the update. Adherence to the CDC guidelines is considered sufficient to comply with Virginia’s Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes […]
DCJS Extends Deadline for New Hate Crimes Grant Program for Localities
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has extended their submission deadline for their new FY2022 grant program that seeks to combat hate crimes across the Commonwealth. The Hate Crimes Grant Program will provide a total of $1.5 million to localities that have established a partnership program with institutions and/or nonprofit organizations that have […]