Update on health and human resources legislation
The General Assembly considered some significant policy changes in the health and human services arena this session, including major changes to the foster care system and efforts to enhance care in local and regional jails. Below is an update on human services-related bills of interest to local governments. Foster care Changes to the state’s foster […]
Minimum wage bills outcomes
Several bills this session sought to make changes to the minimum wage in Virginia. Currently, Virginia’s minimum wage matches the federal rate of $7.25 per hour as established by the Wages and Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA). Certain exceptions to the federal rate include tipped employees, full-time students, and other certain employees. Bills this session […]
In Memory of JOHN D. JENKINS | July 21, 1939 – February 6, 2019
Neabsco District Supervisor John D. Jenkins passed away on February 6, 2019. Jenkins served on the Board of County Supervisors for more than 36 years, making him the longest-serving member of the board. “Prince William County mourns the loss of one of its best,” said Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors Corey Stewart. “For […]
R. Morgan Quicke
Richmond County Administrator Q1. In addition to your Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management, you have an undergraduate degree in Public and Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech. Did you know early on that you wanted to pursue a career in public administration? What sparked your interest in the field? Morgan Quicke: I knew from an […]
Visit Fairfax County and Great Falls Park
Explore one of the nation’s first canals, see the Great Falls of the Potomac, enjoy a hike along Mather Gorge’s dramatic clifftops, and explore the museum exhibits and park film in the visitor center. You can do all of these things and more at Great Falls Park. These pages have information that will help you […]
2019 Virginia County Board Chairs and Vice Chairs
COUNTY CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN Accomack County Donald L. Hart, Jr. C. Reneta Major Albemarle County Ned L. Gallaway Rick Randolph Alleghany County Steve Bennett Cletus Nicely Amelia County Thomas R. Gleason Ralph A. Whitaker, Jr. Amherst County L. J. “Jimmy” Ayers Kenneth Campbell Appomattox County Samuel E. Carter Chad E. Millner Arlington County Christian Dorsey […]
Financial Facts
GASB has issued proposed implementation guidance to provide state and local government financial statement preparers with questions and answers designed to clarify, explain or elaborate on the board’s standards. Implementation Guidance Update-2019 proposes answers to such topics as: Cash flow reporting Post-employment benefits Derivative instruments Irrevocable split-interest agreements Tax-abatement disclosures Amendments to previously issued implementation […]
Solar jobs slow down nationally but continue to shine in Virginia
While solar jobs numbers declined nationally in the last year, solar employment continues to surge in Virginia, according to the recently released National Solar Jobs Census 2018. The Solar Jobs Census, published on February 12, is an annual report from the Solar Foundation on employment and workforce trends in the U.S. solar industry. For just […]
U.S. Senate passes bill permanently reauthorizing Land and Water Conservation Fund
The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program that safeguards and preserves public land and water resources across the Commonwealth and country. The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to protect and enhance America’s public lands and waters, including parks, forests, wildlife refuges, […]
DEQ releases its Notice of Intended Regulatory Action for Consolidation of stormwater management programs
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has published its Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) stemming from 2016 legislation that attempts to consolidate Virginia Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Programs. Chapters 758 and 68 of the 2016 Acts of Assembly (House Bill 1250 and Senate Bill 673) combine the existing Virginia Stormwater Management Act (VSMA) […]
Items under discussion in Budget Conference
The House and Senate budgets were officially placed in conference on February 13 and conferees will be working to resolve differences between the two proposals in advance of the session’s scheduled adjournment on Saturday, February 23. Both proposals contain elements of interest to local governments; a short list of priority items is provided below. Amendments […]
General Assembly sends local government solar bills to the Governor for signing
After months of debate and testimony, the General Assembly has seen the light. Legislation expanding municipal net metering to local governments successfully ended its journey through the General Assembly late last week and will now head to the Governor to be signed into law. HB 2792 (Tran) and SB 1779 (Ebbin) establish a six-year pilot […]
School security personnel, a tale of two sets of bills
School Security issues continue to make their way through the General Assembly. Currently, two types of school security personnel are used in Virginia Schools – School Resource Officers (SROs) and School Security Officers (SSOs). According to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS), School Resource Officer is defined in § 9.1-101 of the […]
Boundary mapping bills chart course straight to Governor’s desk
Bills providing an important tool to localities working to make voluntary boundary line adjustments have each now passed both chambers of the General Assembly and await the Governor’s signature. HB 1649 (Fowler) and SB 1594 (Dunnavant) allow all localities to make voluntary boundary line adjustments using Geographic Information System (GIS) surveys. GIS mapping provides users an effective, […]
Mark your calendars, more local flexibility to school start dates potentially coming soon
As in previous years, several school calendar bills were introduced with the intent of giving local school divisions greater autonomy over determining the opening of the school calendar year. These bills subvert the existing so-called “King’s Dominion Law,” which mandates that local school divisions start after Labor Day unless they are eligible to apply for […]
Important water quality funding bill heads to Senate floor
An important water quality bill that will equip localities with an additional tool for wastewater treatment as well as highlight the significant needs for greater funding made it out of committee unscathed and will now be heard on the Senate floor. HB 1822 (Bulova) allows the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to […]