POSTED Dec. 28
Capitol Contact--2011 State Budget Update
POSTED Dec. 20
Capitol Contact--Gov. McDonnell introduces biennial budget amendments
POSTED Aug. 19
Capitol Contact--Update on new federal funding package (Medicaid and K-12)
Capitol Contact--A must read: New federal funding package (Medicaid and K-12)
POSTED Aug. 10
James J. Regimbal's presentations at the Aug. 6 VACo steering committee meetings
FINANCE: "The State Budget-The Train Derailed"
EDUCATION: "The Outlook for State Education Funding"
POSTED July 29
Comp Board and Aid to Locality Reductions - Inquiries
VACo has had numerous inquiries and questions regarding constitutional officer funding contained in the re-basing for ATL reductions. In response to inquiries, Robyn de Socio, Executive Director, Compensation Board, provided the following. Please review. If you have additional questions, please call (804) 343-2511or email dlynch@vaco.org.
From R. de Socio, Executive Director of the Compensation Board,
“Perhaps the following will help with questions we are all receiving regarding the difference between the CB (Comp Board) budgets set for officers and the base funding used by DPB (Dept. of Planning and Budget) to calculate each office’s prorated share of the $60 million aid to localities reductions. There is no real difference in how this was handled from prior years, but because the reductions to staff in Treasurers/Commissioners was so significant in small offices and the officer funds are excluded, it probably looks substantially different to some of those small localities.
Compensation Board budgets set on May 1, revised on June 1 to show unfunded positions, have not changed. These are posted on the Compensation Board’s website. Aid to Localities reductions attributed to constitutional officers are a prorated share of the overall statewide $60 million reduction, based upon a different base of funds than that set in budgets for constitutional officers by the Compensation Board. The difference in the base used for ATL is not indicative of any change to the base budget set by the Compensation Board. The differences between CB budgets and the base used for ATL reductions are as follows:
ATL Base EXCLUDES the salary and related fringe benefits that will be paid for the elected constitutional officer or appointed finance director;
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ATL Base includes only the REIMBURSABLE portion of remaining salaries and budgeted funds, including fringe benefits, based upon the CB budgeted amounts (note that for Treasurers, Comm Rev and Finance Directors, the reimbursable portion is approximately 50 percent of the budgeted amount);
ATL Base excludes the amounts recovered from reimbursements for the local share of premiums for liability insurance, surety bond, and retiree health care credit;
ATL Base Includes the amount of premiums for liability insurance and surety bond still paid by the CB and not recovered from localities;
ATL Base excludes salaries and fringe benefits of positions for new or expanded jail capacity anticipated to only be open for a portion of FY11;
ATL Base may include minor adjustments to funds to account for turnover/vacancy in balancing to program appropriations.”
POSTED July 27
FY2011 Aid To Locality Reductions
County Administrators:
Please be aware that Department of Planning and Budget has posted the FY 2011 Aid to locality (ATL) reductions on their Web site.
Similar to last year, your locality may select the manner for achieving its reduction using one of the following methods; 1) you may designate that these reductions be taken out of the payments for one or more of the programs in the list provided by DPB, 2) you may make a reimbursement payment directly to the Commonwealth for all of your locality’s reductions, or 3) you may choose a combination of program reductions and reimbursement payment.
The option you select for your locality, along with the corresponding reduction amounts for each program, if applicable, must be submitted to DPB by Aug. 30, 2010.
If a locality has not notified DPB of its selection by Oct. 1, 2010, the State Comptroller will begin withholding the locality’s rolling stock and recordation distributions. (The annual rolling stock distribution and the remaining recordation distributions will not be allocated until localities have made their reduction selections.)
If withholding the locality’s rolling stock and recordation tax distributions for FY 2011 is not sufficient to fully cover its reduction amount, DPB will take action to withhold the remaining reduction amount from the local program deemed most discretionary by the department.
Please continue reading for guidance and the visit this Web site to access your form to complete.
If you have questions or concerns, please call or e-mail Dean Lynch at 804-343-2511.
Click here to read more.
POSTED July 21
Additional Sales Tax Receipts
The Department of Accounts has informed the Department of Education (DOE) that actual sales tax receipts dedicated to public education for fiscal year 2010 will exceed the estimate of $1,049.9 billion included in Chapter 872, 2010 Acts of Assembly, by approximately $18.7 million.
School divisions will receive the additional funding as part of the June payments for sales tax scheduled for the 16th and 30th of the month. As a result, DOE is advising all school divisions to monitor their actual sales tax cash receipts very closely through the remainder of the fiscal year.
In addition, school divisions should pay close attention to the impact that these additional sales tax receipts will have on required local effort for fiscal year 2010. School divisions should monitor spending from local funds carefully to ensure that any hold back of local expenditures resulting from the additional sales tax receipts does not jeopardize the division’s ability to meet required local effort for fiscal year 2010.
Please also note that the carry forward provision detailed in Superintendent’s Memorandum No. 122-10, dated May 21, 2010, which permits school divisions to carry forward to fiscal year 2011 any remaining state fund balances that are unexpended as of June 30, 2010, is contingent upon the division meeting required local effort and required local match for fiscal year 2010.
If you have questions regarding sales tax, please contact the budget office at (804) 225-2025.
Follow-up: VACo received the DOE spreadsheet. The column on the far right is the distribution by school division of the $18.7 million in sales tax funding.
Click here for Payment of Sales Tax Dedicated to Public Education for Fiscal Year 2010 spreadsheet.
POSTED April 27
VACo releases its 2010 Legislative Summary
Click here for PDF Version
Click here for Book Version
This legislative summary details the actions of the 2010 General Assembly and provides information on legislation of interest to counties. This year’s online edition contains links to the General Assembly’s Legislative Information System so that the reader can check the specific working of the bills. Included in the document is a summary of amendments to the 2010-2012 biennial budget made by the 2010 Assembly and lists of studies, resolutions and failed legislation of importance to counties. This year's online version is interactive with links to the General Assembly's Legislative Information System so that the reader can cbeck the specific working of the bills.
POSTED April 22
Reconvened session recap: Counties claim several "victories"
Counties claimed several “victories” yesterday during the annual reconvened session. James D. Campbell, VACo’s executive director, said, “In preparation of the reconvened session, the members really ‘stepped up.’ They made phone calls, sent e-mails and met with their legislators. These actions paid important dividends—VACo’s involvement was noted yesterday by a number of legislators.”
Thank you for your assistance and please thank your delegates and senators!
Click here to read the rest of the analysis.
POSTED April 16
VACo's summary of Gov. McDonnell's recommendations; budget proposals contain bad/good news for counties
On Wednesday, April 14, Gov. McDonnell revealed his amendments to the 2010-2012 biennial budget as well as other legislation enacted by the 2010 General Assembly. This edition of Capitol Contact summarizes the governor’s proposals on the budget and legislation of interest to counties.
To view the full list of the governor's recommendations, visit the Web site of the General Assembly.
Click here to read the rest of the analysis.
POSTED April 12
Comp Board guidance on FY 2010 budget actions
County Administrators:
VACo just received the following correspondence from the Compensation Board on FY 2010 budget actions. Explanations include (1) one day pay reduction, i.e. furlough (2)discontinued 3 month retirement and group life insurance premium reimbursement (3) fourth quarter per diem payment shortfall and (4) FY 2010 federal fund supplanting.
For questions, please call or e-mail Dean Lynch (804-343-2511).
April 9, 2010
EMAIL MEMORANDUM
TO: Constitutional Officers and Directors of Finance, Regional Jail Superintendents, Governing Bodies
FROM: Robyn M. de Socio, Executive Secretary
RE: FY10 Budget Actions Approved by the 2010 General Assembly
I write to provide you with additional information regarding actions taken by the 2010 General Assembly with respect to reimbursable funding for the remainder of FY10. The budget bill as introduced for FY10 (caboose bill) and approved by the General Assembly includes reductions impacting funding to localities in support of constitutional officers.
Although I informed you of these funding reductions and shortfalls in earlier communcations sent on December 18, 2009 and March 16, 2010, I want to be certain there is consistent and clear information available regarding these actions and their implementation.
These funding items include:
One-day’s pay funding reduction (furlough)
Discontinued reimbursement for retirement and group life insurance premiums
Per diem funding shortfall
Federal funds supplant (not reducing funds to localities)
One-Day Pay Reduction (Furlough)
For FY10, the legislature approved the elimination of funds for one day of pay (furlough) for all officers and their employees, based upon 1/249th of base salary for all positions funded by the Compensation Board, including all constitutional officers, regional jails, regional drug prosecutors and directors of finance. The reduction in reimbursement amount will also include FICA (social security premium), as fringe benefits are reimbursable based on actual salaries paid. The amount of reduction attributed to each office has already been included in the COIN system (based upon salaries as of March 31), and shows as a bottom line reduction to authorized funds. As with other reductions in place in COIN (September 2009 across-the-board reductions; Aid to Localities reductions), this savings amount must be achieved no later than the May payroll reimbursement, as June reimbursements are paid from Compensation Board appropriations for the following fiscal year.
Although state employees have a specified furlough day of May 28, 2010, this is not a mandatory furlough day for constitutional officers and employees. There is no requirement that constitutional officers and their employees take a specific furlough day, or all at one time on the same day. However, as local governments are not obligated to cover the expense of one day that will not be reimbursed, officers will need to work with their localities to determine whether the locality will require Compensation Board funded positions to take a day of furlough to achieve the savings that will be withheld from reimbursements. If a day of furlough is taken prior to May 31, officers can utilize the Leave Without Pay CB10 option in COIN to reduce the reimbursement for the furlough day. Localities should be advised that there is no intention that any employee’s salary or service time for the purposes of VRS retirement be reduced based upon the day of pay that is to be withheld.
Discontinued 3-month Retirement & Group Life Insurance Premium Reimbursements
For FY10, the legislature approved the elimination of three months of reimbursement of the employer share of retirement and group life insurance premiums paid on actual salary amounts reimbursed for all officers and employees, including constitutional officers, regional jails, regional drug prosecutors, and directors of finance. This proposal was included in the introduced budget bill, along with proposals to eliminate these reimbursements entirely in FY11 and FY12. Although the legislature restored funding for reimbursements of these expenses in FY11 and FY12, the Compensation Board still must withhold three months (equal to one quarter) of reimbursements in the current fiscal year. Based upon the Compensation Board’s payment cycle that reimburses expenses for June from the following year’s appropriation, and a significant number of localities choosing to implement Aid to Localities reductions through constitutional offices, sufficient savings cannot be achieved by withholding reimbursements for these payroll expenses for the months of May or June. Implementation is already underway to withhold these reimbursements from payments made in late March, April and May, affecting reimbursements of payroll expenses for the months of February, March and April, 2010. Offices that still have reimbursable salary expenses for May will again see reimbursements for retirement and group life insurance premiums based upon the payable salaries. All offices will see reimbursements for these premiums on payable salaries for the June payroll reimbursement.
Fourth Quarter Per Diem Payment Shortfall
As noted in my previous communications, funding was reduced in the introduced caboose bill by $3.6 million, and no funding was provided for an earlier projected need of approximately $6.5 million. In addition to this, state responsible inmate populations in local and regional jails have grown, driving up the cost of per diem payment amounts due. The total funding shortfall at this time for the fourth quarter payment is approximately $13.1 million statewide. With no changes made by the legislature to funding amounts available for the fourth quarter per diem in FY10, the Compensation Board will pro-rate remaining funds available across all jail facilities in accordance with the provisions of Item 70,A., Chapter 781, 2009 Acts of Assembly. When the fourth quarter payment is made in late April, it is anticipated that each jail’s reduction will equate to approximately 64% of the fourth quarter amount due.
FY10 Federal Funds Supplant
As many of you are aware, a decision was made at 2009 fiscal year-end to convert prior state general fund reimbursements of payroll and expenses for Sheriffs’ offices and Regional Jails to federal stimulus funds. This conversion was handled centrally by state finance agencies, but communicated to you through the Compensation Board. The caboose bill included a proposal that was approved by the legislature to also supplant prior FY10 general fund reimbursements for Sheriffs’ offices and Regional Jails with Recovery Act State Fiscal Stabilization Funds. This is not a funding reduction item, but will result in the reassignment of prior reimbursements from state general fund dollars in the amount of $109 million statewide to federal stimulus dollars in FY10, as was done at FY09 year-end. The Compensation Board is currently communicating with other state finance agencies to work out the logistics of the funding conversion, and to determine what accounting and reporting requirements may need to be communicated to local offices. I will write to provide you with additional information regarding this transaction within the next month.
I hope you find this additional information helpful in understanding the implementation of actions approved by the 2010 General Assembly with regard to the remainder of the current fiscal year. If you have additional questions regarding the implementation of these items, please contact your program technician, Charlene Rollins, Charlotte Luck, or me. For questions regarding the per diem shortfall, you may also contact Kari Bullock or Anne Wilmoth.
POSTED April 6
VRS Legislative Update
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has posted its 2010 legislative update on their Web site and in its Employer Update, April 2010 Edition.
Please note that detailed analysis is provided on House Bill 1189 and Senate Bill 232 – Plan Design Changes. This bill creates a new benefit structure effective July 1, 2010. VACo reported on this in the VACo FY 2010-2012 Budget Analysis.
Also provided is a rate schedule for the remainder of FY 2010 and projected rates for teachers and state employees in FY 2011 and 2012, as provided in the Conference Report. All matters are pending the reconvened session scheduled April 21, 2010.
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch
POSTED April 1
VACo sends budget letter to Gov. McDonnell
In anticipation of the 2010 General Assembly reconvened session on April 21, VACo wrote Gov. Bob McDonnell encouraging veto actions on four proposals in the state budget. VACo urges its members to write Gov. McDonnell to veto these budget items.
Read the letter.
VACo asks Gov. McDonnell to veto the redefinition of state-responsible prisoners contained in Item 377 #4c. This amendment overrides the Code of Virginia and long-standing agreements between the state and localities. The amendment changes the definition of a state-responsible felon to allow the state to shift the responsibility for housing more state prisoners to local and regional jails, at the risk of greater overcrowding. At the same time, the state is scaling back on inmate per diem payments to localities as well as funding for jail staff, thereby increasing the pressure on local taxes and local taxpayers. Localities, unlike the state, cannot simply shift the costs to another level of government.
VACo brings attention to the growing gap between state-mandated costs imposed through the Standards of Learning and the Standards of Accreditation, and the resources provided by the Commonwealth under the Standards of Quality. A number of policy decisions were included by Gov. Kaine and the General Assembly in the budget to eliminate items from the rebenchmarking process and to change funding formulas. These actions do not reduce the costs to educate children to pass the Standards of Learning tests. Nor do these actions reduce the costs for schools to attain accreditation. These actions do nothing more than reduce the state’s financial commitment to education. Virginia’s schools have made remarkable progress on meeting accountability standards contained in state regulation, but this progress would not have occurred without local governments overmatching state SOQ dollars by more than $3 billion a year. Local governments no longer have the resources to continue this massive effort, much less to make up for the drastic reductions in public education funding. The result will be seen in years to come in an increased failure rate on the Standards of Learning tests and on school accreditation standards. VACo asks the governor to address this increasingly dire situation, either by advocating for more resources for schools, or by encouraging the Board of Education to amend its regulations to more accurately reflect the resources available.
VACo supports local option changes in employee benefits
VACo also sent a letter to Gov. McDonnell supporting local option changes regarding employee benefits in the state budget.
Read the letter.
VACo writes that it is imperative that local officials have the necessary flexibility to reconcile scarce resources with the public’s demand for services. VACo supports the language in HB 1189 (Putney) and SB 232 (Watkins) and the budget (Conference Report for HB 30) authorizing local governments to require current employees to pay a share of the 5 percent employee contribution to the Virginia Retirement System. We hope Gov. McDonnell enacts these provisions. The pending proposals also provide local governments the option of requiring new employees, hired as July 1, 2010, to pay a share of the employee contribution.
Currently, most local governments make these payments on behalf of their employees. But, retaining the flexibility to have employees pay a portion of the employee contribution to VRS is an option—a choice that local officials will have to weigh against other options, including layoffs, furloughs, salary reductions, tax increases, and service reductions.
For a detailed explanation of this important VRS issue, read VACo’s comprehensive analysis of the budget (see Page 9).
VACo Contacts: Dean Lynch and Mike Edwards
POSTED March 30
VACo releases its comprehensive FY 2010 and FY 2010-2012 budget analysis
The House and Senate agreed to the joint conference committee report to House Bill 29 (FY 2010) and House Bill 30 (FY 2010-2012) on the evening of Sunday, March 14.
Read VACo’s FY 2010 budget analysis.
Read VACo’s FY 2010-2012 budget analysis.
The House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees posted the Conference Report for HB 29 and Conference Report for HB 30 and both the House and Senate provided summary documents.
The budgets are not finalized until after the annual reconvened legislative session. The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, April 21, to act on gubernatorial recommendations including vetoes and amendments. In accordance with the Constitution of Virginia, the governor may sign a bill into law, veto a bill or recommend amendments to a bill. The budget is a single bill. The governor also may propose line-item budget vetoes. The legislature acts on vetoes and amendments. Vetoes are overridden by a two-thirds vote, while amendments are adopted by a simple majority vote. If the governor does not act on the bill, it shall become law without his signature.
Click here to read VACo’s FY 2010 budget analysis.
Click here to read VACo’s FY 2010-2012 budget analysis.
VACo staff contacts: Gage Harter (Editor); Mike Edwards (Revenues, Public Education, Transportation and miscellaneous); Larry Land (Agriculture and Forestry, and Natural Resources); Dean Lynch (Compensation Board, General Government, Commerce and Trade, HHR, Public Safety, Elections, Judicial and miscellaneous); and Ted McCormack (PDCs and UDAs).
POSTED March 29
VACo Short Budget Summary
The House and Senate agreed to the joint conference committee report to House Bill 29 (FY 2010) and House Bill 30 (FY 2010-2012) on the evening of Sunday, March 14.
The House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees have posted the Conference Report for HB 29 and Conference Report for HB 30. And both the House and Senate have provided summary documents.
VACo intends to release its comprehensive budget summary on Friday, March 26. It will include links to timely Compensation Board, 599, and PDC funding spreadsheets as well as VRS rates. The Virginia Department of Education released locality specific funding spreadsheets on March 18. The link above directs the reader to K-12 details for FY 2010 and FY 2010-2012. (Actual DOE link: www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/index.shtml).
VACo previously released the DOE and 599 funding spreadsheets.
Click here to read the rest of the short budget summary.
VACo Contacts: Dean Lynch and Mike Edwards
POSTED March 19
DOE's locality specific spreadsheets for FY 2010 and FY 2010-2012
The Virginia Department of Education has released its calculation tool. The site allows localities to review their estimated state funding levels for:
The 2010-2012 Biennial Budget Passed by the 2010 General Assembly; and
Amendments to the FY 2010 Budget Passed by the 2010 General Assembly.
The site also includes the Superintendent’s memorandum detailing the “Amendments to the FY 2010 Caboose Budget and the 2010-2012 Biennial Budget Passed by the 2010 General Assembly.”
Link: Virginia Department of Education: Local Calculation Tool
VACo Contact: Mike Edwards
POSTED March 18
Budget information on 599, VRS rates and Comp Board
Please find attached or hyperlinked:
(1) VRS rates
(2) 599 spreadsheet showing funding for FY 2010, reflecting the adjusted appropriation, and funding for FY 2011 AND 2012, based on the totals appropriated in the just-completed biennial budget. Also linked is a memo from John Colligan, interim director. REMEMBER: funding in the spreadsheet are not final until the governor signs the bills.
(3) Also following is some information obtained through discussion with Comp Board staff and locals regarding a couple questions received from several localities. I met with Robyn (Comp Board) this week. I needed clarification and understanding on some issues. The Comp Board will release their estimates next Friday. They will also be releasing some guidance docs around VRS group life insurance reimbursements. They are working through some broad budget language. We will keep you posted. See the following Q and A.
VACo is working on budget analysis and anticipate having it available soon.
Budget Q&A
Question: We can take a rough 4 percent reduction on the funding for Sheriff, including correctional salaries, based on the July 1, 2009 approval number, correct? What percent do we need to take on the jail per diem payments?
Answer: For the funding for Sheriffs, 4 percent is to the base appropriation, but does not include the vacancy freeze. If the freeze is translated to an across-the-board cut and the freeze lifted (allowing vacancy savings to be transferred elsewhere, and used to cover aid to localities reductions), it could be another 3 percent. Until the budget estimates are put together, no one can guarantee it will be exactly at 4 percent (or 7 percentincluding vacancy), but that should be a good starting point.
For per diem payments, the Comp Board will be looking at a shortfall of about 60+ percent of the fourth quarter payment (due in April) in the current fiscal year. The Comp Board anticipates having better numbers on this in a few days, and we will be sending something out in the next week identifying other changes for the current year (furlough and discontinued reimbursement for retirement and group life insurance). For FY11 and FY12, the estimated loss of funding based upon the rate changes to equate to 35 to 40 percent on average statewide. This will vary by facility based on the inmate population characteristics. Stay tuned for more information available by locality on this in the coming week.
Question: In making the reductions for Commissioner and Treasurer, will the Compensation Board reduce the number of authorized positions or reduce the percentage of reimbursement of those positions authorized? This has varying impacts on local governments.
Answer: The Comp Board will not be changing the reimbursement percentage. Changing the reimbursement percentage was proposed by the Senate in their subcommittee recommendations, but the conferees simply reduced general fund support without making language changes authorizing a change in the reimbursement rates. This means that the Comp Board will administer the reductions as budget cuts, and not just reimbursement cuts. Specific plans for implementation will be discussed by the Board soon and should be available by April 1.
Question: On the $60 million aid to the state from localities, is it safe to approximate that number in relative terms to last year $50 million?
Answer: Yes, it seems that all agree that this is the best general course of estimation until such time as DPB produces alternate information.
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch
POSTED March 16
VDOT revenue sharing program for FY 2011
As you know, the Revenue Sharing Program allows the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to provide state funds to match local funds for the construction or improvement of roadways in your
locality. Based on the Code of Virginia, this program can be allocated between $15 million and $50
million in state funds, subject to appropriation.
At this time, proposals under consideration by the General
Assembly for the FYll budget fund the program at $15 million. Although the legislature continues to
work through the details of the budget, we are moving forward with the application process for FYl1.
We will provide a follow-up memo to advise you of the total amount to be allocated when that
information is available.
Read the rest of the memo.
POSTED March 2
VACo releases budget letter to GA; denounces changes to the Communications Trust Fund and addresses K-12 funding and revenues
Action
Earlier today, VACo released its annual budget letter to the General Assembly’s budget conferees. VACo members are urged to send a similar letter to conferees and their legislators. The conferees are charged with reaching a budget agreement.
Talking points
VACo’s letter outlines key concerns and priorities including:
Opposing the proposed transfer of Communication Sales and Use Trust Funds to support treasurers and commissioners of the revenue: The House appropriates $40 million from the fund.
Supporting higher K-12 public education appropriation funding levels: The Senate provides $360 million more in FY 2011.
Supporting the enactment of fees generating more than $170 million next biennium: The Senate uses the fees, including a new tax of property insurance premiums and increased court filing fees, to protect the general fund and state mandated services including compensation board requirements and 599 funding.
Key information
The communications industry is joining VACo and VML in opposing the transfer of Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Funds.
In a letter to the members of the legislature, the industry writes: “Unfortunately, language contained in the House budget causes localities to lose this committed revenue. Our organizations respectfully request that you honor the commitments made to local governments in 2006 by rejecting the proposal in the House budget and restoring this revenue to local governments.”
All 95 counties are urged to send the GA a budget letter. Please include VACo’s key issues. These letters are important and can make a difference. Please do your letter ASAP!
Read VACo’s letter to the Conferees.
VACo Contacts: Dean Lynch and Mike Edwards
POSTED Feb. 25
Compensation Board spreadsheet comparing House and Senate budget amendments
The Compensation Board has released a spreadsheet detailing and comparing House and Senate budget amendments. When reading the document it is important to note that the spreadsheet does not address the sources of funding.
Click here to read rest of the story.
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch
POSTED Feb. 22
House and Senate release budgets
Click here to read story.
VACo Contacts: Dean Lynch and Mike Edwards
POSTED Feb. 17
Gov. McDonnell updates state revenue projections; sends letter to legislators formally outlining comprehensive cost saving options for budget
Governor's budget letter, revenue projections and cost savings breakdown linked
Please find linked the most recent press release (Feb. 17) from Gov. Bob McDonnell, as well as accompanying information on his proposed budget cuts. VACo will summarize this information as soon as possible, but felt you might want to receive the original documents.
Press release
Governor's budget letter
Revenue projections
Cost savings breakdown
VACo Contact: Dean Lynch
POSTED Jan. 28
VACo/VML send letter to House Speaker regarding local budget decisions
VACo/VML have urged Del. William J. Howell to hold legislation that negatively affects local revenues or that imposes or expands the services cities, counties and towns must provide. The “hold” would last until an overall budget strategy is developed.
VACo/VML stressed that local governments are struggling to manage their budgets in light of decreasing or stagnant local and state revenues.
VACo/VML offered a partial list of bills in the House that fall into that category.
Read VACo’s letter to the Speaker Howell.
Read the partial list of bills that negatively affect local revenues or place new responsibilities on local governments.
POSTED Jan. 21
VACo communicates budget principles to General Assembly
VACo delivered a budget letter to the chairmen of the General Assembly’s money committees and all members of the General Assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The correspondence, written by President Phillip A. Bradshaw (Isle of Wight), outlines key local government principles and is intended to help guide state leaders as they adopt the state budget.
The letter remains faithful to VACo’s 2010 Legislative Priorities.
Read the Budget Letter.
POSTED Jan. 15
VACo/VML DPB budget briefing
Summary of Caboose Operating Recommendations
Summary of Operating Recommendations
State agency Web sites on the budget
POSTED Jan. 12
Constitutional officer funding spreadsheets (locality by locality)
From Comp Board Staff: Please note that these spreadsheets contain preliminary staff estimates based upon analysis that Comp Board staff has been able to complete thus far, and also that these staff estimates are of the potential impact of the proposed budget at the local level, based upon their current interpretation of the proposals, and not Compensation Board approved implementation strategies. There may still be outstanding technical issues identified, legislative changes to the proposals that could affect these estimated distributions, and the Board may not act on budget bill proposals until after legislative action in the 2010 session of the General Assembly.
Click here to read entire Comp Board memo.
POSTED Jan. 11
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.
