Author: Gage Harter

VACo Premier Partner Spotlight Podcast – Enterprise Fleet Management

LINK TO THE ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT PODCAST Host Dean Lynch speaks with Enterprise Fleet Management’s Eddy Simon, Account Executive, and Kate Quinn, Area Sales Manager. Listen to how Enterprise Fleet Management can help counties save thousands of dollars with its hands-on management, award-winning technology, and the infrastructure and expertise of Enterprise, the world’s largest fleet […]

2018 Presidential Initiative: Healthy Virginia Counties in Action

As the end of my term as VACo President draws near, I’ve been reflecting on the Healthy Virginia Counties initiative and wanted to share a few thoughts. As many of my colleagues know, health care is one of my passions, both as a direct service provider in my time as a volunteer EMT, and in […]

My County Works

NACo and ICivics have partnered together to create a comprehensive educational program that teaches students about the importance of local government. This much-needed resource will help students in any educational setting gain a solid understanding of the roles, duties, and challenges of local governance. NACo’s program includes an educational video game, a set of courses […]

Work Continues to Implement Family First Prevention Services Act

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), enacted earlier this year as part of an overall spending package, makes major changes to federal funding for foster care, and presents both challenges and opportunities for Virginia as it works to implement the law in advance of the effective date of most of its provisions (October 1, […]

Study of Special Education Private Day Program Rates Underway

Budget language included in the 2018 Appropriations Act directed the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to contract for a study of the current rates paid to providers for special education private day placements funded through the Children’s Services Act. The study is to include a review of the adequacy of current rates as well as […]

VACo 84th Annual Conference Mobile App

Dear Annual Conference Attendee: As a registrant of the VACo 84th Annual Conference, you are invited to download the event Mobile App. The Mobile App provides all kinds of useful information to help you navigate the Annual Conference. It also allows you to create a personal schedule, access exhibitor and sponsor information as well as […]

Webinar for Local Officials on Transition to “Next Generation” 911

2 pm | Wednesday, November 7 As Virginia makes the transition from analog to digital technology for 911 service calls, each locally administered emergency call center will need to complete certain infrastructure upgrades. While the state is paying the capital costs for replacement and upgrades (including connectivity upgrades such as installation of fiber), some of […]

VACo releases 2019 Preliminary Legislative Program

VACo has released its 2019 Preliminary Legislative Program, which was drafted through VACo’s steering committee process. The document includes a host of important and timely proposed policy statements including language pertaining to K-12 education funding, local taxing authority, stormwater regulations, land use planning, transportation, broadband, health and human resources and other local budget and legislative […]

Visit Bedford County and the New London Water Tower

This water tower is located in Bedford County’s New London Business and Technology Center park. The water tower supplies one million gallons of water to the research and manufacturing businesses in this 500+ acre park, which still has graded lots available and offers nearly 7 miles of walking/running/biking trails. To learn more about this park, […]

84th Annual Conference Update

If you are attending VACo’s Annual Conference, here are some helpful suggestions to make your time at The Omni Homestead run smoothly. Please call 804.788.6652 with questions. UPON ARRIVAL Check-in time for your room is 4 p.m. Valet parking is included in the 15 percent daily charge that is automatically added to your room rate. […]

State General Fund Revenues Continue to Perform Well; Budget Preparations Underway

Governor Northam announced last week that September General Fund (GF) revenues grew 4 percent in September, and on a fiscal year-to-date basis, revenues have increased by 2.7 percent through September, surpassing the annual estimate of 1.5 percent growth. September’s healthy revenue collections were partially attributable to growth in individual income tax revenue, both withholding and […]

Draper Aden Associates 2018 Water and Wastewater Rate Report

Since 1989, Draper Aden Associates has prepared and distributed an annual Virginia Water and Wastewater Rate Report. This report asks municipalities to provide information concerning monthly residential water bills as well as all wastewater-related charges included on their customers’ bills. Experts at DAA analyze the data and compare it to former years in order to […]

Financial Facts

State and local government issuers would use a single method to report conduit debt and related obligations under a proposed new rule issue for Interpretation No. 2, Disclosure of Conduit Debt Obligations.  Conduit debt obligations are debt instruments issued by a state or local government to provide funding for a specific third party that is […]