Mental Health Commission Considers JLARC Reports on CSB Funding, STEP-VA Implementation
At its July 1 meeting, the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century received briefings from Jeff Lunardi, who leads the new health and human resources unit at the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), on funding for Community Services Boards (CSBs) and the implementation of STEP-VA. […]
CSA Private Day Placement Rate Study Enters Final Phases
The consultants who are conducting a study of rates paid for private special education day placements funded through the Children’s Services Act held a series of meetings with stakeholders in June to solicit feedback in advance of finalizing the report’s recommendations. VACo staff attended the meeting held on June 20 in Richmond, which was also […]
Visit Appomattox County and the Lafayette Meeks Grave
This is the grave of Lafayette Meeks, a village resident who entered service with the 2nd Virginia Cavalry in the spring of 1861. Several months later, at the age of 19, he died of typhoid, having never seen battle. Like two-thirds of all American Civil War deaths, he died of a disease, not a gunshot […]
VACo Associate Member SPOTLIGHT – English Construction
New Conflicts of Interests training requirement for local elected officials
As of July 1, 2019, all local elected officials (including constitutional officers) are required to complete training on the Conflict of Interests Act once every two years. This training is provided by the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council and is now available on the Council’s website: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/. The online training consists of a […]
Discussion on broadband expansion highlights Region 7 Meeting
VACo breached the halfway mark of its 2019 Regional Meeting schedule by traveling to picturesque Orange County on June 13. County officials, VACo partners, VACo staff, and many more gathered at James Madison’s Montpelier, the beautifully restored historic home of the Father of the United States Constitution, co-author of the Federalist Papers, and fourth President […]
Utility-Scale Solar Seminar
It didn’t take long for a spontaneous conversation to erupt among the nearly 70 attendees of the VACo Utility-Scale Solar Seminar on June 27. After all, the topic was solar and there were plenty of questions and an abundance of knowledge in the room. VACo’s Joe Lerch kicked off the meeting in Dinwiddie County with […]
VACo County Pulse Podcast | A Breath of Fresh Air: Life in Rural Virginia
Welcome to the County Pulse. In this episode – we meet the recently appointed Chair of the VACo Rural Caucus: Grayson County Administrator Bill Shepley. Bill talks to host Angela Inglett about his love for Rural Virginia, his vision for the Caucus, and his excitement about the opportunities facing rural communities. Listen to the Podcast
Rural Caucus: The Rural Arts
What comes to mind when you read the words, “Economic Development?” The term often conjures a specific connotation in our minds, and we may begin to think of a new box store opening up in town or of a distribution center settling nearby. Of course, those investments are great opportunities for our communities, but what […]
JLARC Examines CSB Funding, STEP-VA Implementation
As part of its enhanced role in evaluating health and human resources programs, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) received two reports on June 17, both dealing with aspects of the state’s publicly-funded behavioral health system. JLARC staff reported on the implementation to date of the System Transformation, Excellence and Performance (STEP-VA) initiative, […]
VACo County Pulse Podcast | A Conversation about Economic Trends with Jim Regimbal
Welcome to the County Pulse. In this episode – Katie Boyle talks with Jim Regimbal of Fiscal Analytics, Ltd., about key components of the budget adopted in 2019 and major economic factors shaping the next biennium budget. Listen to the Podcast
Two Studies of Tax Appeals Underway
Two studies of appeals of local taxes are under consideration this summer, both directed by study resolutions enacted by the General Assembly. Appeals of businesses’ real and tangible personal property assessments HJ 98 (Byron), which was passed by the General Assembly in 2018, directs the Department of Taxation to review the appeals process for businesses […]
James P. Crozier
Orange County Vice Chairman Q1. You were a firefighter for 30 years before serving on the Board of Supervisors. What do you think are the most pressing issues in public safety at the local level? Jim Crozier: I believe managing expenses while providing a highly trained fire & rescue workforce is without a doubt number […]
Visit Orange County and James Madison’s Montpelier
There’s So Much To Do At the home of the Father of the Constitution, you don’t have to be a history buff to have a great time at Montpelier. With 2,650 acres to explore, there’s plenty for visitors of all ages! With history, trails, gardens, spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and some of […]
VACo celebrates the making of the Supervisors’ Manual
A celebration honoring the 45 contributors to the 2019 edition of the Virginia County Supervisors Manual took place in the training center of VACo’s headquarters on June 5. “We had a great turnout, and we wanted to properly thank them for their contribution to this great resource for local officials,” said Phyllis Errico, VACo General […]
Elections Initiatives Under Way; Funding Remains Critical Need
Elections administration and security are topics of increasing attention at the state and federal levels, and there are several efforts underway in Virginia to implement major elections initiatives enacted this session. The increasing complexity of elections administration, coupled with limited state support, often makes this critical function a challenge for localities. During the 2019 session, […]