State General Fund Revenues Continue Strong Growth as Budget Development Moves Forward
State General Fund revenues demonstrated continued strength in September, a significant month for revenue collections and a key data point in the development of revenue forecasts for the upcoming biennium budget. In presentations to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees this week, Secretary of Finance K. Joseph Flores characterized the economy as […]
Commonwealth Connect Coalition Updates and Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) Updates
The Commonwealth Connect Coalition recently announced that VATI awards are expected to be announced in December. As previously reported, The FY22 grant round closed on September 14 and in total, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) received: 57 applications representing 84 localities $943,300,424 in requested funding $1,159,125,288 in matching funds Approximately 292,000 proposed locations […]
Commission on School Construction and Modernizations Continues Examination of K-12 Infrastructure and Financing
On September 29, the Commission on School Construction and Modernization met again and reviewed various means of financing K-12 infrastructure in the Commonwealth. Members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Virginia), the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and the Virginia Department of the Treasury provided perspective on this longstanding issue of importance to local […]
Senator Kaine Discusses American Rescue Plan Act Implementation with VACo Members
Senator Tim Kaine held an online conversation with VACo and VML members on September 27 to share updates from Congress and to hear from local governments about implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act, including decisions about use of Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and outstanding questions regarding eligible uses and reporting. Senator Kaine noted that […]
Visit Prince William County and the Henry House
Spring Hill Farm – now simply known as Henry Hill – lay fallow and overgrown in the summer of 1861. A small vegetable garden and orchard surrounded the frame house. Inside the home, 84-year old Judith Henry remained bedridden, too old to work the land that had been in her family for more than a […]
Build a customized American Rescue Plan funding report with ARP ACTion
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) offers public sector organizations a momentous opportunity to recover and grow post-pandemic. State and local governments, tribal governments, school districts and municipal utilities all have a responsibility to strategically align ARP spending with the needs of your community. At the same time, public officials are tasked with […]
Virginia Commission on Youth Seeks Public Comment on Draft Recommendations for “Crossover Youth” Information Sharing
The Commission on Youth is currently conducting a study on best practices for sharing of data and records regarding “crossover youth,” broadly defined as youth who have experienced maltreatment and also engaged in delinquency. This study was directed by legislation approved during the 2021 session that allows access to certain juvenile justice records by staff […]
Upcoming FOIA Training!
The FOIA Council will be hosting the following live webinar FOIA trainings this month. The webinars are free to attend and are approved for DCJS and CLE credit. Links to register can be found below and on our website. If you are interested in receiving DCJS or CLE credit, you will need to individually register and […]
The Immediate First Step to Effective Cybersecurity is a Positive Mindset
As a cybersecurity leader, your success is determined by your ability to improve the security of company assets and stakeholders. No doubt this is a challenging endeavor. The landscape is constantly changing, variables are increasingly complex, and threat actors need only to win one attack while you need to successfully defend against every single one. […]
Join us for the Taste of Tidewater at the VACo Annual Conference
Workgroup on Special Education and the Children’s Services Act Underway
A stakeholder workgroup charged with making recommendations regarding the use of Children’s Services Act funding to support special education needs has held its first two meetings. The workgroup was created by 2021 legislation that was introduced in response to a study of the Children’s Services Act by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission that […]
Visit Bedford County and Abbott Lake
Abbott Lake is a 24-acre impoundment located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County and is one of the attractions to the Peaks of Otter Park. Fishing is just one of the many recreational opportunities available in the Park. Numerous hiking opportunities range from very demanding hikes up high mountain peaks to the […]
Introducing a New Associate Member – Sun Tribe
Virginia Department of Transportation Provides Clarity Regarding Ability of Certain Localities to Reduce Speed Limits Below 25mph
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has determined that HB1903 (Carr), which allows a locality to reduce speed limits in a residence or business district on streets within their boundaries to less than 25 mph (but not less than 15 MPH), does not apply to streets that are in the state highway system. Thus, it […]
State Executive Council Soliciting Public Comment on Two Children’s Services Act Policies Until November 12
On September 9, the State Executive Council for Children’s Services (SEC) approved the release of two proposed policies for public comment. The public comment period began Monday, September 13, and closes Friday, November 12 at 5pm. The proposed policy revisions result from a goal adopted in the SEC’s 2019 strategic plan of reviewing CSA policies […]
VRS Provides Updates Concerning Investment Returns, Plan Handbooks, Health Insurance Credit Benefits, and More!
As part of their Quarterly Newsletter, the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) confirmed achieving a 27.5% return, net of fees, on its investment portfolio for fiscal year 2021. The trust fund thus ended the year with approximately $101.8 billion, exceeding the $100 billion mark for the first time in its history. As previously reported, this is […]