2018 Presidential Initiative: Healthy Virginia Counties in Action – Spotlight on Early Childhood Part 2
Earlier this month we marked the traditional “back to school” milestone of the day after Labor Day by examining some of the science documenting the importance of early childhood experiences to long-term health outcomes, as well as the economic returns on investments in high-quality early childhood programs. Counties have long recognized the importance of giving […]
VACo County Pulse Podcast – Utility-Scale Solar Energy
Link to the Utility-Scale Solar Energy Podcast Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) projects are growing in size and number across the Commonwealth. Unlike a traditional electric generating facility, they are land intensive. One Megawatt (MW) of generation capacity typically requires the siting of solar panels on 8 to 12 acres of land. The result is larger […]
The Commonwealth Transportation Board announces record number of Smart Scale applications
The following is a joint press release from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) recently announced that the data-driven SMART SCALE project prioritization process reached new benchmarks as localities and planning organizations submitted the highest number of applications to date. Statewide, 468 […]
Several CSA Studies Underway
Several efforts to examine and improve aspects of the Children’s Services Act (CSA) are currently underway, both as a result of General Assembly direction and State Executive Council action. Private special education day placements: Language included in the 2017 Appropriations Act charged money committee staff with identifying ways to improve the management of quality and […]
Virginia’s Water Towers – Caroline County
For the next several issues – VACo will publish photos of water towers from across the Commonwealth. If you have a water tower in your community – please email a photo to gharter@vaco.org A water tower is an incredibly simple device. Although water towers come in all shapes and sizes, they all do the same […]
Governor Ralph Northam to speak at VACo Annual Conference
House Select Committee on School Safety Considers Potential Recommendations
The House Select Committee on School Safety reviewed an extensive list of potential recommendations from its three subcommittees on September 11 and agreed to work on further development of the proposals in advance of a final meeting in November. The subcommittees collectively proposed 58 recommendations (several of which were items proposed by more than one […]
Financial Facts
Under proposed regulations issued by the IRS, transfers to a state agency or charitable organization in lieu of paying state and local taxes would be deductible as a charitable contribution only to the extent that the taxpayer making the donation did not receive a quid pro quo. Contributions that result in a state or local […]
State General Fund Collections Continue Growth in August
Governor Northam announced on September 12 that state General Fund (GF) revenue collections increased 4.5 percent in August relative to August 2017. Individual income tax payroll withholding, a mainstay of GF revenues, grew 5.1 percent in August. On a fiscal-year-to-date basis, payroll withholding collections are flat relative to the same time period the year before, […]
Virginia Medicaid Expansion Q&A by Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
Who will be covered under the new eligibility rules for Virginia Medicaid? Beginning January 1, 2019, Virginia adults are eligible for coverage if they are between the ages of 19 to 64, meet income requirements and are not eligible for Medicare. Under the new guidelines, a single adult making at or below $16,750 annually may […]
2018 Virginia Local Government Investment Conference
2018 Presidential Initiative: Healthy Virginia Counties in Action – Spotlight on Early Childhood
The start of each school year is always a time of new beginnings, especially as children board the bus for the first day of kindergarten. While the first day of school often marks the official start of a child’s journey into formal education, research has demonstrated that the initial steps on that path are taken […]
Visit Stafford County and the Gari Melchers Home and Studio
He was one of the most successful painters of his time, sought out by the rich and famous. She was a beautiful, young art student, and his biggest fan. They fell in love on an ocean liner and spent their lives sharing art. More than a hundred years later, the story of Gari and Corinne […]
VACo County Pulse Podcast – Medicaid Expansion and What it Means for County Governments
Link to the Medicaid Expansion and What it Means for County Governments Podcast VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch interviews Dr. Jennifer Lee, Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, about Medicaid expansion and how her agency is working with local departments of social services, Community Services Boards, and jails on its implementation. Details about […]
Virginia Retirement System Announces FY 2018 Investment Returns
The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) announced on August 29 that its FY 2018 return on its investment portfolio was 7.5 percent, net of fees. VRS assumes an average annual rate of return of 7 percent, so the FY 2018 performance, by exceeding this target, will help to improve the funded status of VRS’s retirement plans. […]
The School Employee Guidance Program: Meeting teachers where they are
As one suburban school teacher put it: “The stress never ends.” She was responding to a 2017 Aetna survey that proved she wasn’t alone. The findings showed school employees with a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety and turnover compared to other professions due to a variety of factors such as classroom behavioral issues, increased class […]