VACo’s 1207 to the 95 Blog – The Opioid Crisis Part 4: Addiction’s Impact on Community Resources
Today we work through our final segment on the opioid crisis in America. This last installment in our series will explore addiction’s impact on community resources, and will share a few updates on opioid-related litigation. The weighty price of addiction is heartbreaking to observe and costly to address. That these consequences are especially high for […]
Discussion Commences on School Safety Recommendations
As the House Select Committee on School Safety continues to discuss recommendations for the 2019 Virginia General Assembly Session, legislators are making it clear in advance what they think the recommendations need to address. In a letter to Speaker Cox and the rest of the Committee, Delegates VanValkenburg, Mullin, and Bourne emphasized the need to […]
Danny P. Mann
Scott County District 5 Supervisor Q1. You were first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2011. What made you decide to run for elected office? What advice would you give to others who are thinking about entering public service? Danny Mann: Yes, I was elected in 2011 and started my service to the county […]
Visit Madison County and the Whiteoak Canyon
One of Shenandoah National Park’s most popular destinations is Whiteoak Canyon and its six waterfalls, with heights from 35 to 86 feet. There are swimming holes at the bottom of each waterfall, but do not expect much privacy because they are quite popular. Visitors hiking Whiteoak Canyon from the boundary must also have a valid […]
Governor Announces Revenue Surplus for FY 2018
Governor Northam announced last week that the state appears to have closed FY 2018 with a significant General Fund (GF) revenue surplus, based on preliminary figures. According to the Governor’s statement, the surplus is estimated at $551.9 million, representing 6.3 percent growth relative to the previous year, and is largely attributable to growth in individual […]
Review of Education Mandates Underway
As part of its periodic reassessment of mandates on local government, the Department of Education is currently soliciting comments on three mandates: school staffing ratios for certain instructional and support staff, Standards of Accreditation requirements, and reporting on broadband connectivity in schools. Comments are due to Rebecca Askew, Senior Policy Analyst at the Department of […]
County Officials’ Summit shaping into form
VACo Education and Steering Committee Meetings Thursday, August 16 VACo Board of Directors Meeting Friday, August 17 Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center | 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway | Fredericksburg, VA 22401 | Agenda VACo’s County Officials’ Summit is now less than one month away! We hope you’re making plans to join us at this […]
2018 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOIA) “RECORDS” TRAINING
November 7 | November 14 The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Advisory Council will conduct its 2018 FOIA “Records” training in Richmond starting July 25. The training sessions will be held at the Pocahontas Building located at 900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, near the Virginia State Capitol. Citizens, media representatives, public officials, […]
Financial Facts
The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) has a lesser known provision that provides for new community development incentives designed to increase long-term investments in low income communities. Sections 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 of the IRS Code tries to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities by providing incentives to investors. The […]
Digital Counties Survey 2018 – Winners Announced
The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) announced the winners of the 15th anniversary Digital Counties Survey. The survey, conducted by CDG in partnership with NACo, identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services, encourage open data, collaboration and shared services, […]
Blueprint for Broadband
This year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that almost 29 percent of rural Virginians lack access to highspeed internet. To compare, only 2.8 percent of Virginians who live in urban areas lack access. VACo believes that closing the digital divide ensures that all Virginia communities can compete in the 21st century economy. Connectivity is […]
2018 Presidential Initiative: Spotlight on Physical Activity
Last month we explored nutrition as a major determinant of health and some of the innovative ways that counties have tackled the interconnected issues of food instability and obesity. This month, we’ll be taking a look at the related issue of physical activity. This time of year, when school is out and the days are […]
Visit Grayson County and the Historic 1908 Courthouse
The Historic 1908 Courthouse serves as the Art & Cultural Center of Grayson County. The Foundation is a private non-profit corporation whose mission is to preserve the building and make it available to the people of Grayson county and the surrounding areas. The building served as the county courthouse for Grayson County from 1908, when […]
Loudoun County Chair Selected to Participate in Women in Government Leadership Program
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall has been selected to participate in the Women in Government Leadership Program Class of 2019, which is hosted by Governing magazine. Chair Randall is the only Board member from Virginia to join a cohort of 24 other women from around the country. The 2019 program includes […]
Louise Stokes: A Long Legacy of Helping Others
When Louise Stokes started working for York County in 1975 as a buyer, she was a one woman show. “It was a new position in the Accounting Office,” she said. “I worked closely with the County Administrator and Finance Director to purchase all goods and services for the County. The departments were very small in […]
VACo Regional Meetings Schedule
VACo is excited to start the 2018 Regional Meetings season. We visited Westmoreland County on May 22 and Dinwiddie County on May 30. We traveled to Albemarle County on June 14 for the Region 5 Meeting and then to Grayson County on June 21 for the Region 12 Meeting. Regional Meetings are held annually to […]