U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Online Sales Tax Case
On June 21, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., et al. that states may require out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes, even if the retailer has no physical presence in the state. The case centered around South Dakota’s law requiring businesses selling more than $100,000 in goods per year in […]
Regionalism, Rural Broadband, and Restoring State Funding Support are Top Issues at Region 12 Meeting
State and local leaders met on June 21 in Grayson County to discuss issues ranging from K-12 funding and lack of connectivity to disincentives in state economic development dollars. Delegate Will Morefield led a robust discussion on the changes made to the Commonwealth’s Development Opportunity Fund HB 222 (Morefield)/SB 883 (Stanley). Working with Delegate Lashrecse […]
Key Elements of the 2018-2020 Biennium Budget
Governor Northam signed the FY 2018 “caboose” and 2018-2020 biennium budgets on June 7, marking the resolution of a months-long impasse. The following is an analysis of key elements of the biennium budget, which makes investments in county priorities such as K-12 education, mental health, early childhood, and public safety. 2018 Session Adopted State GF […]
2018 Presidential Initiative: Spotlight on Nutrition – Healthy Virginia Counties in Action
As we approach the official beginning of summer next week, our calendars begin to fill with graduation parties and backyard cookouts as summer crops like berries and tomatoes appear in our grocery stores, roadside stands, and farmers’ markets. Too many of our neighbors, however, struggle to put nutritious food on the table, with a variety […]
Bryan Hill
Fairfax County Executive Q1. In addition to holding a master’s degree in public administration, you majored in public administration as an undergraduate. What made you decide on that career path? Bryan Hill: I started my college career in computer science, but I attended a liberal arts college where I was fortunate enough to be exposed […]
Visit Page County and the Worker Statue at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center
Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center Location: Mile 51 on Skyline Drive Available Facilities: Restrooms, information desk, exhibits, ranger programs, videos, bookstore, publications, maps, backcountry permits, and first aid. Big Meadows across Skyline Drive from visitor center. SOURCE: National Park Service
Financial Facts
State and local governments will be required to present direct borrowings and direct placements of debt separately from other types of debt in note disclosures in their financial statements for reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2018. Under a new GASB standard, GASB No.88, Certain Disclosures Related to Debt, Including Direct Borrowings and Direct Placements, […]
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. Regional Meetings are held annually to give local elected officials, county administrators, and legislators an opportunity to discuss challenges […]
Helping Counties Plan for the Impacts of Utility-Scale Solar Facilities
By The Berkley Group On the Virginia and North Carolina border is Mecklenburg County, which has thousands of acres of agricultural and forested land, and an abundance of high voltage transmission lines. Mecklenburg County became the unexpected, but ideal site for solar energy companies to locate utility-scale solar facilities. While the Department of Environmental Quality […]
SROs and Threat Assessments: Studying School Safety
The Commission on Youth met on June 6 to discuss recent data collection efforts on school safety and student discipline across the Commonwealth. At the request of Senator Marsden, one of the five approved Commission studies focuses on the utilization of School Resource Officers (SROs). With an emphasis on preventive measures, the Commission provided an […]
Healthy Virginia Counties Webinar
GO VA Committed to Coordination and Regional Progress
The Virginia Growth and Opportunity (GO VA) Board met to approve new capital requests, evaluate proposed regional budgets, and strategize to grow the Board focus areas of site readiness and the start-up ecosystem. Voting to approve Board leadership for the coming year, the Board selected John O. “Dubby” Wynne as Chair and Ben J. Davenport […]
Discussions at the Region 5 Meeting focus on a plethora of issues
County leaders engaged in a robust conversation about issues ranging from agriculture to broadband to staffing volunteer fire departments to teacher shortages at the Region 5 Meeting in Albemarle County. Senator Mark Peake also attended the meeting on June 24 and spoke about several issues of interest to him – water treatment legislation, state assistance […]
Comments on Draft Annexation Study due September 3
The Virginia Commission on Local Government (CLG) is taking public comments on a draft Report on Annexation Alternatives. During the 2016 General Assembly session, the existing moratorium for city-initiated annexation and county declarations of immunity from annexation was extended until 2024. In extending the moratorium the legislature also directed CLG to study annexations and provide […]
State General Fund Revenues Continue Growth in May
Governor Ralph Northam announced last week that state General Fund (GF) revenues grew by 1.4 percent in May relative to the same period last year, and revenues continue to outpace the annual forecast on a fiscal year-to-date basis. Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne’s revenue report notes that individual income tax withholding, a mainstay of GF […]
County helps teach farming 101
Story written by Mary Ann Barton | NACo Senior Staff Writer and reprinted with permission from NACo Heading west about an hour or so outside of Washington, D.C., you’ll find green rolling hills, horses grazing in pastures and low walls made of weathered stone in Fauquier County. You’ll also find city slickers new to the […]