Nominations Open for Governor’s Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Education
The Administration announced late last week that nominations are now open for the Governor’s Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Education. Nominations must be submitted online by close of business on September 22, 2017 and will be accepted in the following categories: Innovation in Education; Community Partnerships and Collaboration; Supporting School Readiness; Preparing Students for […]
The Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity 2017
Monday, September 25 | 11:45 AM -to- Tuesday, September 26 | 2 PM Please join Governor McAuliffe, administration officials and members of the Virginia General Assembly for the Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, at the Berryhill Resort & Conference Center in South Boston, Virginia hosted by the Virginia Rural Center. The summit will bring together local, […]
Opportunity to Participate in Health and Human Services Data Sharing Workgroups
Earlier this year, representatives from several localities met with the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to discuss challenges with data access, use, and sharing between the Commonwealth and localities in the human services arena. Following that meeting, a small work group was formed to identify challenges and areas of interest for further exploration. With […]
State proposes model to grade Counties on their fiscal health
Budget language adopted in 2017 directs the Auditor of Public Accounts (APA), Martha S. Mavredes, to establish a work group to develop an “early warning system” for localities in fiscal distress. This system is intended to allow the state to flag certain localities determined to be in financial trouble for certain follow-up actions, including potential […]
2017 VACo County Officials’ Summit
Gubernatorial Candidates Ed Gillespie and Ralph Northam to speak at the County Officials’ Summit Lieutenant Governor candidates Fairfax and Vogel will also speak 9 a.m. | Monday, August 21, 2017 | DoubleTree by Hilton Charlottesville REGISTRATION FORM | REGISTER ONLINE | SUMMIT AGENDA On Tuesday, November 7, Virginians will elect the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor […]
Ruby Brabo elected to NACo Executive Committee
King George County Chair Ruby Brabo was elected on July 24 to serve a two-year term on the NACo Executive Committee. Her selection as South Region Representative came at the NACo Annual Conference in Franklin County, Ohio. “I am honored and excited about the opportunity to represent my county and Virginia on the NACo Executive […]
Virginia Counties Recognized for Model Programs
RICHMOND (August 1, 2017)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is pleased to announce the 17 recipients of the 2017 Achievement Awards recognizing model local government programs. VACo received 79 submissions. Winning entries focused on addressing high priority issues that challenge counties today. Winning Achievement Award Submissions | Winning Program Descriptions | 2017 Achievement Awards Entries […]
Commonwealth Transportation Board revises revenue sharing guidelines
On July 19, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved revisions to the Revenue Sharing CTB Policy and Guidelines. A subcommittee appointed by CTB considered comments from various stakeholders, including VDOT District Staff and Local Governments. The entire document, entitled “Revenue Sharing Program Guidelines,” may be found at this link: http://www.virginiadot.org/business/resources/local_assistance/Revenue_Sharing_Program_Guidelines.pdf. Here are some of the […]
Webinar tentatively scheduled on Revenue Sharing Revisions
VDOT has tentatively scheduled a webinar to review the changes and answer any questions on August 17 at 10 am. VDOT will also use this opportunity to discuss the new two-year application cycle and the online application process. VDOT is asking all interested persons to register for participation in the webinar at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HJPJYYZ, so that participants can […]
Visit Rockingham County and the Turkey Statues
Rockingham County boasts hundreds of turkey farms and has a proud tradition that dates back to the Roarin’ 20s. “The modern turkey industry has its roots in Rockingham County,” said Hobey Bauhan, President of Virginia Poultry Federation, in a 2011 interview. “Back in the 1920s, a man named Charles Wampler, Sr., experimented with incubating turkey […]
Regional FirstNet/AT&T State Plan Conferences
As recently reported in the news, Virginia became the first state to “opt in” to FirstNet, the national First Responder Network Authority created under federal law in 2012. The purpose of FirstNet is to build an “interoperable” public safety broadband network so that first responders will have a reliable and robust communications system to handle […]
News from our Associate Members – Siemens and AES join forces to create Fluence, a new global energy storage technology company
Fluence combines the extensive technology expertise, unique energy storage market experience, and global reach of Siemens and AES to offer proven and cost-competitive energy storage systems for a rapidly transforming sector. Fluence will deliver the Advancion and Siestorage energy storage platforms and will continue to develop new storage solutions and services, reaching customers in over […]
Financial Facts
GASB has issued a new standard, Statement No. 86, for state and local governments to apply when accounting for extinguishment of debt prior to its maturity. In this Statement, GASB establishes rules for accounting for the transactions in which cash and other monetary assets acquired with only existing resources are place in an irrevocable trust […]
Proposed Changes to Smart Scale include limiting the number of applications
The Commonwealth Transportation Board is also considering changes that could take effect in “Round 3” of the “Smart Scale” Program during FY 2019. Following the first two rounds of the program, VDOT’s staff has been evaluating ways in which the program may be improved. Some components of the program were discussed with VACo’s Transportation Steering […]
FEMA Proposal Affects All Communities Participating in the National Flood Insurance Program
FEMA has recently published notice of their intent to adopt a policy for managing minor development activities within the floodplain. See: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/131010. This policy proposal stems from a FEMA concern that many relatively minor low-impact activities which meet the definition of “development” within the NFIP regulations (CFR 44) are not being reviewed by participating localities […]
Ed Gillespie and Ralph Northam to speak at the VACo County Officials’ Summit
Lieutenant Governor candidates Fairfax and Vogel will also speak On Tuesday, November 7, Virginians will elect the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General as well as 100 Delegates. This important election day will certainly impact counties and local governments. VACo is excited to announce that Ed Gillespie and Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam will separately […]