VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
 


VACo Newsroom

The Virginia Association of Counties strives to keep its members informed in the most timely manner possible. VACo uses a variety of media to fulfill its communication goals. This Web site is the heartbeat of VACo's communication efforts. We update www.vaco.org daily and often create and delete pages to keep the site fresh. VACo also analyzes possible design improvements and considers new technology enhancements to stay up-to-date as Web sites evolve.

Also, VACo keeps its members and other interested parties updated with Twitter and Facebook. We use these communication tools to post news, important information, job listings, videos and photos and other relevant information.

VACo created a YouTube page to organize and store its video. We are dedicated in exploring how video can better serve our members. It is our intention to have a fresh video on our home page as often as possible. When the videos are purged from the front, they will be placed on our YouTube page.

VACo publishes its newsletter, County Connections, twice a month. VACo's legislative bulletin, Capitol Contact, is published at least twice a week when the General Assembly is in session. VACo also issues alerts and e-mail communications when information needs to be quickly dispatched.

County Connections is published by VACo on the 1st and 15th of every month.



Capitol Contact is published electronically at least twice weekly during the General Assembly session.

VACo welcomes media inquiries. We have experts who know the issues well and can give stories perspective and color. Our experts are well-respected in the Commonwealth and have experience working with the media. If our experts cannot answer an inquiry, then VACo often can offer other options.

Contact Gage Harter, director of communications, at 804-343-2502 or gharter@vaco.org.

 

Click on the years below to view press releases from other dates.

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2013 Press Releases

VACo supports additional funding for transportation


Photo by Governor of Virginia

January 24, 2013

The Virginia Association of Counties applauds the efforts of Gov. Bob McDonnell and state legislators seeking to remedy our Commonwealth’s transportation problems. VACo supports many initiatives in the governor’s transportation plan that provides an additional $3.1 billion over a five-year period.

“Our transportation system is in dire need of funding for maintenance and construction. Projects that have been on our local six-year transportation plan may never be funded unless we overhaul our underfunded system,” VACo President Jack Miller said.

Miller emphasizes that the governor’s Transportation Plan is not perfect but it does raise substantial revenues to address Virginia’s current and short-term road and transit needs.

Read the rest of the press release.


Other Publications

Tax Rates 2011
The 30th annual edition of this important reference book contains detailed information on tax rates and fees in all of Virginia’s 95 counties and 39 cities.

Also, there is information for all of the state's 36 large towns and 113 of the remaining 154 smaller towns. The study is based on a comprehensive survey conducted in 2011 by the Center for Economic and Policy Studies at UVA's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

As local governments struggle with the fiscal aftermath of the Great Recession, now is the time to to review state statutory restrictions and to examine local sources of revenue in comparison to what other localities are doing.

Such analysis is made easy by this publication that contains explanatory text for each source, text tables, detailed tables and charts. Also included is an overview of local government taxation including text and graphics.

Here's an order form for the Virginia Local Tax Rates, 2011. The cost is $25 plus $6 shipping. Visit the website here.

VACo/VML Directory of Counties, Cities and Towns
The 2009-10 edition of the directory is now available. Send $35 to VACo Services Inc., 1207 E. Main St., Suite 300, Richmond, Va. 23219-3627, along with your name and mailing address to receive your copy of the directory. Here's a convenient form you may print to order your directory.

Click here to order online.

Virginia County Supervisors' Manual
This handbook contains valuable information for county supervisors and other interested parties. The Seventh Edition is now available. To order your copy, complete the order form and mail it with a check for $35 made payable to VACo Services, Inc., 1207 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219-3627; or fax with credit card information to 804-788-0083. For further information, please call Pricilla Wallace 804-788-6652. Click here to download the order form. 

Click here to order online.

Board Meeting Procedure in Virginia
Order the Board Meeting Procedure in Virginia booklet revised to meet the the most recent Virginia Statutes. Authored by registered parliamentarian and New Kent County Supervisor Stran L. Trout, this handy guide has all the requirements you need to know to have an efficient and formal board meeting. This is a must have for all county officials! The booklet costs $5 per copy. Click here to download an order form. 

Click here to order online.

For questions or comments about this page, contact Gage Harter.