Helpful Real Estate Tax Deferral Bill Advances
SB 228 (Howell), introduced at the request of the Treasurers Association of Virginia, relates to the point at which real property taxes deferred under a local tax deferral program for seniors and residents with disabilities become due. Currently, Virginia Code provides that the deferred taxes become due upon sale of the property, and does not […]
Health Care Costs for Inmates Rising
Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Harold Clarke spoke to the Senate Finance Public Safety Subcommittee about the DOC budget. The total amount in the introduced budget for DOC Offender Health Care is $17.8 million in 2019 and $24.2 million in 2020. Using the June 2017 Consumer Price Increase (CPI-W), outpatient hospital services increased 6.2 percent, […]
Bill to Allow Limited Access to Taxpayer Information Moves Forward
HB 495 (Hodges) authorizes a local commissioner of the revenue or treasurer to disclose taxpayer information to a non-governmental entity with whom the locality has contracted to provide services related to tax administration. For the contractor to have access to this information, the contractor would agree to be bound by the confidentiality provisions that apply […]
It’s Time to Modernize the Communications Sales and Use Tax
VACo has worked with Delegate Vivian Watts to introduce legislation to modernize the Communications Sales and Use Tax (CSUT) to reflect the present-day telecommunications landscape. Language in support of such a proposal was adopted in VACo’s 2018 Legislative Program. VACo encourages member counties to prepare resolutions in support of HB 1051; resolutions should be sent […]
TROY WADE
Louisa County Supervisor Q1. What sparked your interest in serving as an elected official? What advice would you give to others who might be interested in running for office? Troy Wade: My grandfather was a local elected official and helped one of his best friends, V. Earl Dickinson, who served in the General Assembly for […]
Visit Highland County and the Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge
Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge is a historic Truss bridge located on State Route 645 in McDowell, Highland County. It was built in 1896 by the West Virginia Bridge Works. It is a single-span, four-panel pony truss measuring 39 feet long, 12 feet, 6 inches wide, and 5 feet, 2 inches tall. Much of the […]
Commission on Youth Releases Updated Resource on Mental Health Treatment Options
The Virginia Commission on Youth recently released a newly-updated edition of the Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs. This document was initially compiled at the direction of the General Assembly in 2002 and provides a comprehensive review of treatment options for a variety of mental health disorders afflicting […]
State General Fund Revenues Up 10 Percent in December; January Data Awaited
State General Fund revenues continued to perform well in December, increasing by 10 percent relative to the previous year and by 5.9 percent on a year-to-date basis. Growth was driven by nonwithholding payments, which tend to be a volatile revenue source, and Secretary of Finance Richard D. Brown cautioned in his revenue report that the […]
Governor’s Task Force on Civil Unrest Reports
On August 24, 2017, Governor Terry McAuliffe signed Executive Order 68, creating the Task Force on Public Safety Preparedness and Response to Civil Unrest. This Task Force was charged with evaluating the circumstances that led to the events in Charlottesville on August 11-12 and assessing the Commonwealth’s procedures for preparing and responding to events where […]
Financial Facts
The Internal Revenue Service issued tax withholding tables for 2018 to be used to implement changes to the tax law enacted last month. The IRS has asked employers to use the tables as soon as possible but no later than February 15, 2018. VACo Contact: Vicky Steinruck, CPA
VACo Opposes Solar Zoning Ordinance Bills
SB 429 (Stanley) and HB 508 (Hodges) severely limit a local government’s ability to determine the siting of solar facilities. SB 429 will potentially be heard in Senate Local Government Committee on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 23. HB 508 is referred to House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. As of yet, no hearing has […]
FOIA and COIA Bills Introduced
A flurry of FOIA related bills would change public records disclosure and public meeting procedure. FOIA Formal Advisory Opinions HB 213 (Mullin) requires that formal advisory opinions issued by the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council (Council) be approved by the Council and, after such approval, be published on the Council’s website. The bill also […]
Ban the Box Bill Advances
SB 252 (Dance) prohibits state agencies from asking for information related to an arrest, charge, or conviction prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment. Exceptions to the prohibition include positions designated as sensitive or related to law-enforcement. The offer of employment may be withdrawn if the arrest or charge resulted in a conviction and if […]
Health Profession Legislation Discussed
SB 315 (Ruff) allows licensed audiologists to fit and sell hearing aids if they have earned a doctoral degree. Current law requires audiologists to also pass an examination to obtain licensure in the Commonwealth. While in the Senate Education and Health Subcommittee for Health Professions, an amendment passed to exempt both audiologists and opticians from […]
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Considers Virginia Healthcare Marketplace and Minimum Wage Increases
On January 15, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee met for its first hearing of the 2018 General Assembly Session. The Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Frank Wagner, examined 11 pieces of legislation. These bills dealt with a wide range of proposals including the creation of a Virginia Healthcare Marketplace under the Affordable Care […]
Wireless bill erodes local decision-making authority for the siting of towers and poles
HB 1258 (Kilgore) and SB 405 (McDougle) substantially limit the ability of local-elected officials to determine how wireless infrastructure is incorporated into their communities, and effectively removes citizen input in making decisions on the siting of towers and poles. VACo Members – Please contact your legislators to OPPOSE HB 1258 (Kilgore) and SB 405 (McDougle). […]