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 […]
VACo Board of Directors adopts resolution supporting the applications of Northern Virginia Counties for the location of Amazon HQ2
Join us for a seminar on social security benefits
VACo, in partnership with Nationwide Retirement Solutions, is offering an educational seminar regarding Social Security benefits for county employees in Brunswick County on Tuesday, September 11 from 10 – noon. Our speaker will be Carlo Cordasco, Vice President of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. Mr. Cordasco will speak about all aspects of Social Security benefits. The […]
Regions 7 and 8 Meet in Stafford County
Stafford County hosted representatives from Regions 7 and 8 on August 30 at the Gari Melchers Home and Studio for a lively discussion of issues of concern. Attendees who arrived early had the opportunity to tour the galleries and learn about the career and work of artist Gari Melchers, whose home and studio are preserved […]
Governor Northam Addresses Money Committees
By Jim Regimbal, Jr. | Fiscal Analytics In his address to the “money committees” on August 17, Governor Ralph Northam announced a $555.5 million General Fund (GF) revenue surplus for FY 2018. Other than the constitutionally-required 10 percent of surplus to be deposited to the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF), the remaining surplus funds will […]
Joseph Guthrie
Pulaski County Supervisor Q1. You are a lifelong resident of Pulaski County and run a farm that has been in your family since 1795. What is it like to serve on the governing body for a place where you have such deep roots? Joe Guthrie: Yes, my roots run deep in Pulaski County. I’m the […]