VACo Announces the Winners of the 2023 Achievement Awards
RICHMOND (August 3, 2023)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is pleased to announce the 33 recipients of the 2023 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government programs. VACo received 135 submissions. Winning entries focused on addressing issues of addiction, education, and revitalization, as well as finding solutions to other challenges that counties face daily. […]
Visit Gloucester County and the Gloucester County Historic Courthouse
Location: Courthouse Square / Main Street Built: 1766 – 1767 Style: Georgian Architect: Unknown Contractor: Unknown Description: The building faces south and is a one story red colored brick structure. The “T” shaped building is located on landscaped grounds of the courthouse circle in the center of Gloucester to the east of the courthouse. The […]
2023 VACo County Officials’ Summit Speakers Lineup
Behavioral Health Commission Adopts Strategic Plan, Looks at National Best Practices for Crisis System
On July 18, members of the Behavioral Health Commission met at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, where they adopted a strategic plan and received several updates from staff on ongoing efforts, as well as a briefing from representatives of the University of Virginia School of Law’s State and Local Government Policy Center on ways to […]
DCR hosts webinar for counties on incorporating native plants and pollinators in utility-scale solar development: September 12, 2023, 1pm – 3pm
Pictured is the Gold-Certified Virginia Pollinator Smart Solar Facility at Cople Elementary School in Westmoreland County. Photo is taken after second growing season. The Virginia Pollinator-Smart Team is hosting an informational session about the Virginia Pollinator-Smart Program. As part of the approval process for utility-scale solar installations, more counties are incorporating native plants and pollinators […]
Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education Inaugural Meeting
On July 20th, the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) met for the first time. This Commission is comprised of Virginia legislators and representatives of business, economic development, local government, school divisions, parents and early care and education programs. The Commission is charged with providing recommendations for and tracking progress on the financing […]
Virginia Board of Education Convenes Annual Retreat
On July 25th, the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) convened for its annual retreat. In addition to certain housekeeping items, VBOE elected a new President and Vice President. Due to term limits and other factors, eight of the nine VBOE members are relatively recent appointees of Governor Youngkin. VBOE members voted to elect Grace Creasey […]
Thank You Prince Edward County for hosting the VACo Regions 1 and 4 Meeting!
VACo held its sixth of eight regional meetings for 2023 on June 28th, at the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Prince Edward County. VACo staff had the honor of traveling to Prince Edward County, who graciously hosted the event, to meet with local elected officials and staff from Region 1 and Region 4. Region 1 […]
JLARC Publishes Report Critical of State K-12 Education Funding
On July 10th, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) met to present several reports, one of which was a long-anticipated review of Virginia’s K-12 Funding Formula directed by the General Assembly. The report’s findings confirm what many in local government already know to be true: the State Standards of Quality (SOQ) formula yields […]
Visit Giles County and the Giles County Historic Courthouse
Location: 120 North Main Street / Wenonah Avenue Built: 1834 – 1836 Style: Colonial Revival Architect: Thomas Mercer Contractor: Thomas Mercer Description: The building faces south and is a two story dark red colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Pearisburg. […]
VACo 2023 Annual Conference Logo
We’re excited to unveil our 89th Annual Conference logo! See you on November 12-14 in beautiful Bath County! VACo 89th Annual ConferenceNovember 12 – 14, 2023The Omni Homestead | Bath CountyVACo Annual Conference Website
WESTMORELAND COUNTY RFP
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL UPDATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, COMPENSATION PAY, CLASSIFICATION PLANS Westmoreland County’s goal is to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce. We are requesting sealed proposals from experienced firms to update our job descriptions and develop a complete compensation strategy and pay plan structure for the County. Our objective is to ensure a compensation […]
Thank you Franklin County for hosting the VACo Regions 10 & 11 Meeting and Conflict Resolution Workshop!
PHOTO – VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch leads a Conflict Resolution Workshop prior to the Regions 10 & 11 Meeting. VACo held its fifth of eight regional meetings for 2023 on June 14, at the Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise in Franklin County. VACo staff had the honor of traveling to Franklin County, […]
Update on 2023 BPOL Legislation Regarding Cancer Drugs and VACo Request for Information
Legislation was considered during the 2023 General Assembly session that would have required a deduction from BPOL taxes for anti-cancer drugs that were purchased by a medical practice and administered within a physician-patient relationship to patients whose costs for treatment are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE. VACo opposed this legislation, pointing out that […]
JLARC Presents VRS Oversight Report
As part of their July 10th meeting, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) presented an oversight report of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) as required by the Code of Virginia. The health and well-being of VRS is important to local governments as it administers retirement programs and other benefit programs for state and […]
VDOT Seeks Input Regarding Electric Vehicle Charging Station Deployment
The Commonwealth of Virginia is investing a projected $100 million in federal funding over the next five years to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Virginia. The federal funding for these EV charging stations is allocated from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. At this time, NEVI funds are reserved […]