Local Government Toolkit for Summer Food Service Program Released
As a follow-up to the conference call First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe held in March with local government leaders on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (previously discussed in County Connections), No Kid Hungry Virginia has released a toolkit with ideas for how local elected officials can promote the SFSP. The document includes ideas for raising […]
General Assembly holds Reconvened Session
The General Assembly held its reconvened session on Wednesday, April 5, to consider gubernatorial amendments to 71 bills and 39 vetoes, as well as 27 amendments to the state budget. VACo previewed the reconvened session in this week’s County Connections. Legislators sustained all of Governor McAuliffe’s vetoes. The General Assembly rejected amendments, in whole or […]
Governor’s Amendments and Vetoes to be Considered at Reconvened Session
Governor McAuliffe released the last of his amendments for the 2017 General Assembly session on Monday, March 27. Gubernatorial amendments to 71 bills (including House and Senate pairs) will be before the General Assembly for consideration at the reconvened session on Wednesday, April 5 (an additional 12 bills were amended and acted upon by the […]
Elected officials participate in the VACo supervisors’ certification program
The opening class for the Virginia County Certified Supervisors’ Program course was held on Friday, March 17 at the Albemarle County Government Center. Dr. Mike Chandler, Virginia Tech Professor Emeritus, and Dr. Martha Walker, Virginia Cooperative Extension Community Viability Specialist, led the class titled, “Managing While Leading: Understanding Your Powers, Duties and Responsibilities.” Attendees discussed […]
Proposed federal budget reduces funding for Chesapeake Bay Program
President Trump’s recently proposed budget would reduce funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program from $73 million in FY 2017 to $5 million in FY 2018. In FY 2017, the largest portion of these funds were distributed throughout the Chesapeake Bay’s 64,000-square mile watershed in the form of grants to states, localities, nonprofit organizations and community […]
Visit Craig County and the Fenwick Mines Waterfall
Fenwick Mines was once an old mining area and is now home to trails and a recreation park. The trail takes you by open pit mines and foundations of old mining structures. The Fenwick Forest Walk is a one-mile nature trail. The Wetland Trail allows you to observe wetlands created by beavers; follow the trail […]
RRMM Architects announces merging of forces with the Lukmire Partnership
Financial Facts
In a new statement issued March 20, GASB addressed a wide range of accounting challenges that preparers of financial statements for state and local governments encounter in preparing, implementing and applying a variety of GASB statements. GASB Statement No. 85, Omnibus 2017, addresses issues related to blending component units, goodwill, fair value measurement, pensions and […]
NACo releases analysis of President’s budget proposal
President Trump released his FY 2018 budget proposal on March 16. Overall, the budget proposes to increase defense spending by $54 billion and reduce non-defense discretionary spending by an equal amount. NACo issued an analysis of the proposed budget’s effects on counties on March 20. As noted in NACo’s analysis, the Administration’s proposal, nicknamed the […]
Public Comment Period Open for Proposed CSA Policy Regarding Audit Findings
Public comment is now being accepted on an outline of a proposed policy to direct the response of the Office of Children’s Services to findings of non-compliance by local CSA programs. The policy is outlined in concept on the CSA website under the “Public Comments” header; comments are being accepted on the same page. The […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Contact your Legislators NOW to support Governor’s Amendments to SB 1296
Please call your delegates and senators to encourage them to accept the Governor’s amendment to SB 1296 (Vogel). The bill will be before the General Assembly this Wednesday, April 5, during the 2017 Reconvened Session. As passed by the General Assembly, SB 1296 restricts a board of supervisors from placing a meals tax referendum on […]
16 CTE programs to receive $37,500 each for new equipment and improvements
The Governor issued a press release on March 23 to announce that 16 high schools and technical centers will share $600,000 in grants to upgrade equipment for their career and technical education programs (CTE). Each school will receive $37,500 to purchase new equipment and make other necessary improvements. The awards, by school division, are as […]
Governor vetoes education bills opposed by VACo
Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed education bills on March 23 that would have diverted public funds away from public schools or limit local decision-making authority. Last month, VACo sent the Governor letters urging him to veto HB 2342 (Landes)/SB 1283 (Obenshain) and HB 1605 (LaRock). VACo’s overarching legislative priority position during the 2017 General Assembly Session […]
VACo Requests Amendments and Vetoes
After the General Assembly’s adjournment sine die, the Governor has the opportunity to make amendments to legislation or to veto bills. Governor McAuliffe must submit recommended amendments and vetoes by midnight on Monday, March 27 for the General Assembly’s consideration at its reconvened session on Wednesday, April 5. VACo has requested amendments to several bills. […]
Visit Albemarle County and Doyles River Falls
Doyles River Falls Trailhead is located in the South District at mile 81.1 on Skyline Drive. Here you will find the beginning of the Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls hike and the Doyles River Falls and Jones Run Falls hike. At Doyles River you can play in the woods and in the water. Hike […]
Heather Lewis is home as the new Middlesex County Attorney
Often in life, things have a way of working themselves out. Take Heather Lewis’ story for example. Lewis was born and raised in Saluda, the seat of Middlesex County. She attended Middlesex Public Schools. Her grandmother, Anita Wilson, retired in 1999 after 24 years as Middlesex County Treasurer. Her mother, Cathy Wilson, worked six years […]