The Budget Impasse Ends
After lengthy floor discussion, the Senate passed FY 2018 “caboose” and 2018-2020 biennium budgets in the early evening of May 30. The House subsequently voted to accept the Senate’s amendments, which eliminated the need for a conference committee. The budget bills are now before the Governor, who indicated in a statement that he would be […]
The VACo County Pulse Podcast
Guests share the legislative pulse of Virginia Counties with host Dean Lynch. Click on the link below to listen to our first episode. Thank you for listening to the County Pulse Podcast.
2018 Presidential Initiative: June Focus – Nutrition
This month we will be exploring nutrition as a major building block of health. Having enough to eat is clearly a major factor in overall well-being, and we all know the importance of eating a balanced diet with plenty of nourishing elements, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, too many of our neighbors in […]
The Intersection of Teacher Shortage and Equity
The State Board of Education’s Committee on Evidence-Based Policymaking met during the Special Session to discuss trends in teacher quality data, challenges in recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, and how divisions are incorporating best practices in equity in schools. Last year, Governor McAuliffe signed Executive Directive 14 to address Virginia’s growing teacher shortage, reaching […]
Visit Dinwiddie County and the Robert and Betty Ragsdale Community Center
In May 2007, the family of the late Robert and Betty Ragsdale graciously donated the old sewing factory in McKenney, VA, to the Dinwiddie County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. The family’s wish was to see the building revitalized for the purpose of serving the community. After several years of strategic planning, a ground-breaking ceremony […]
VACo Regional Meetings
VACo is excited to start the 2018 Regional Meetings season. We visited Westmoreland County on May 22 and Dinwiddie County on May 30. We will travel 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 […]
First Lady Northam and Mayor Stoney Host Call on Summer Food Service Program
First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam and City of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney kicked off Memorial Day weekend with a discussion of the ways local elected officials can get involved in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program works to ensure that children receive meals during the summer months, when many children who otherwise […]
10th Anniversary of Go Green Virginia Challenge
By Denise Nelson | The Berkley Group The 2018 Go Green Virginia Challenge applications open with special significance this year: it’s the 10th anniversary of this home grown program to promote environmental stewardship among local governments. Early on, VACo partnered with the Virginia Municipal League (VML), which created the program in 2007 to encourage implementation […]
LEAD VIRGINIA ANNOUNCES 2018 CLASS MEMBERS
Lead Virginia, the statewide leadership program now entering its fourteenth year of educating Virginia’s leaders about the issues most relevant to the Commonwealth, has announced its 2018 class members. VACo’s Director of Government Affairs Katie Boyle (second row, third from the left) is a member of the 2018 class. The 55 class participants are senior-level executives […]
VACo Regions 1 & 4 Meeting brings local leaders from Accomack County to Charlotte County for robust discussions
VACo traveled to Dinwiddie County on May 30 for its second 2018 Regional Meeting. Around 60 local government leaders from 11 counties attended the joint meeting of VACo Regions 1 & 4. Also in attendance were representatives from VACo Sponsors: the Berkley Group, VACORP, VACo/VML Finance, and NORESCO. The meeting was held at the beautiful […]
VACo Region 2 Meeting tackles issue of providing internet access to rural areas
Close to 50 county officials kicked off the start of VACo’s regional meeting schedule at Westmoreland State Park on the evening of May 22. Rob Jones with the recently formed Virginia Rural Broadband Coalition and King and Queen County administrator Tom Swartzwelder led an interactive discussion on overcoming the obstacles to providing affordable, high-speed internet […]
Governor designates areas in 60 counties for investment under new tax incentive program
The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 includes a new revitalization tool that incentivizes investments into low-income census tracts by allowing investors to defer tax on prior capital gains, so long as the gains are reinvested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Each qualifying fund is created to invest in eligible properties located within […]
Budget Resolution Delayed
Senators returned to Richmond yesterday to continue work on the state budget, but local governments will have to wait at least another week for resolution of the budget impasse. After the Senate Finance Committee met last week to receive briefings from staff and discuss potential amendments in concept, it was anticipated that the Committee would […]
State Budget Discussions Continue
Senators returned to Richmond this week to continue discussions on the state budget. After a floor session that was largely procedural, the Senate Finance Committee met on May 14 and again the following day to receive a report on state revenues and discuss budget amendments offered by Senators, several of which addressed Medicaid expansion, the […]
Gary Larrowe
Botetourt County Administrator Q1. You took an unusual path to county administration – prior to being appointed County Administrator in Carroll County, you worked as a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent. How did your background prepare you for your work in local government? Gary Larrowe: To be honest, I certainly have had a “different” path to […]
Visit Clarke County and the Burwell-Morgan Mill
Although Millwood is small, it’s easy to spend hours in the village of about 200 residents. Explore its antiques shops ‑ The Red Schoolhouse, Malcolm Magruder Antiques and Judy Judy Judy – enjoy fine food and wine from Locke Store and, of course, visit the magnificent Burwell-Morgan Mill, which has been the very heartbeat of […]