CURRENT NEWS
Click here for 2008 and 2009 archived legislative news
POSTED Feb. 11
Legislative Day Bulletin
The state budget overview
By Neal Menkes (VML)
The state budget is the most important piece of legislation affecting local governments this year. The General Assembly’s task is to cobble two budgets, addressing the remainder of FY10 and authorizing spending for the 2010-2012 biennium. The General Assembly is not starting from scratch. It works from the budget proposals submitted in late December by former Gov. Tim Kaine.
Because of the weakened economy and slumping tax revenues, the budgets under consideration will force fundamental changes in the fiscal relationship between the Commonwealth and its local governments. Whether in the drastic funding reductions for constitutional officials, the dollar reductions and policy changes in public education, or a range of proposals in public safety and human services, the new state budgets will shift an unprecedented amount of costs to local governments. Indeed, local governments, the Virginia Retirement System and state employees will likely end up doing the heavy lifting to balance the state budget.
Click here to read entire Legislative Day Bulletin.
POSTED Jan. 11
VACo releases its Legislative Priorities Brochure
*Printer-friendly version
*Brochure version
**Entire VACo 2010 Legislative Program
POSTED Jan. 11
New Supervisors Forum presentations page
About the Forum: The Virginia Association of Counties hosted the County Supervisors Forum for supervisors on Jan. 8-10. The purpose of the event was to expose new supervisors to critical issues facing counties today: financial responsibilities, schools, economic development, transportation, environmental protection, intergovernmental relations, legal issues and more.
Who attended: More than 60 newly elected and incumbent supervisors, chief county administrative officers and other government managers departed with information they need to steer their locality forward.
Presentations: In case you missed the New Supervisors Forum, we have posted below presentations from different sessions.
Click here to visit New Supervisors Forum presentation page
POSTED Jan. 7
A MUST READ: VACo's budget summary by Mike Edwards, Dean Lynch and Larry Land
The economic downturn continues to negatively impact state revenue growth and in turn available funding for Virginia’s core services. As stated in a Gov. Timothy M. Kaine budget summary document, “… the revenue forecast for FY 2012 is for fewer general fund dollars than FY 2007” and “…overall state aid to localities is reduced by $2.6 billion, through cuts in education, public safety, and other programs.”
CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE BUDGET SUMMARY.
