Governor Announces Significant State Budget Surplus for FY 2021
Governor Northam announced on July 14 that Virginia’s FY 2021 General Fund surplus is estimated at $2.6 billion, based on preliminary figures. While a complete analysis will be released on August 18, when the Governor speaks to the “money committees,” initial data released by the Administration indicates that Virginia’s core revenue sources, income tax withholding […]
Joint Subcommittee on Mental Health Transitions to New Behavioral Health Commission; Focus Remains on State Hospital Overcrowding
Discussions at the July 15 meeting of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century took on fresh urgency as a result of the temporary closure of five state hospitals to new admissions, which was announced by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Commissioner Alison Land on […]
Visit Gloucester County and the new LOVE Sign
Dr. JJ Orth, Chairman of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors, shown alongside Carol Steele, Gloucester’s Acting County Administrator We were honored to be joined by some special guests during today’s LOVE Sign Ribbon Cutting, including Dr. JJ Orth, chairman of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors and Carol Steele, Gloucester’s Acting County Administrator! The […]
Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) Webinar and Grant Cycle Application Opening Soon
On July 20, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Rail and Transit Subcommittee met and provided updates on the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP), and on the following day the full CTB approved final policy for the program. As previously reported, TRIP was created as part of the omnibus transportation bill from the 2020 session of […]
JLARC seeks information from counties on how land use ordinances may affect supply of housing – responses due August 4
In November of 2020 the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC) adopted a study resolution for a Review of the Commonwealth’s Housing Needs. A component of the study includes a mandate to “identify factors that limit the supply of housing, including zoning requirements.” Related to this component of the study, JLARC staff reached out to […]
Good News as JLARC Presents VRS Oversight Report
As part of their July 6 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 […]
Visit King and Queen County and the King and Queen Courthouse Tavern Museum
The Courthouse Tavern Museum presents the old Fary’s Tavern building as a turn-of-the-19th-Century Tavern, including a restored dining room, parlor and two bedrooms. It is the oldest surviving building in the Courthouse Historic District. King & Queen County purchased the Tavern in 1941 from its last owner and used the building for county offices. It […]
Marcus Alert Implementation Plan Released
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) have released the state plan for the implementation of the Marcus-David Peters Act, a requirement of legislation enacted during the fall 2020 special session and the product of five months of work by a stakeholder group, which met […]
Governor seeks to align state COVID-19 workplace regulations with CDC guidelines
Deadline of July 31 to comment on proposal In January of this year the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted a permanent workplace standard for Infectious Disease Prevention: SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 (16VAC25-220). The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) has drafted revisions to this standard which now account for the widespread […]
Counties are encouraged to participate in online solar survey
On July 13, 2021, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVA and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) will email an invitation to participate in a statewide, online solar survey to the planning director (or equivalent management role) of every county and independent city in Virginia. The purpose of the Virginia Solar Survey is to collect data and […]
Time Capsule Replacement Project
Governor Ralph Northam has launched a project to create a new time capsule representing the Commonwealth, and is inviting Virginians to submit artifacts to be considered for inclusion in the capsule. The time capsule will be replacing an old capsule that was embedded in the pedestal of the Robert E. Lee statue in 1887. This is a great […]
Governor Northam Announces General Assembly to Convene August 2 for a Special Session Addressing the State Budget and Allocation of Federal Funding
On June 23, Governor Ralph Northam issued a proclamation summoning the members of the General Assembly to convene for a Special Session beginning on August 2nd. The purpose of this special session will be to appoint judges and address budgetary matters, including the appropriation of federal relief funds. This will be the third Special Session […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Confusion Over the Ability of Public Employers to Offer Comp Time to Employees
ACTION: Contact House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Members to Support Clarifying Budget Language in the Special Session HB 2063 (Mullin) as enacted during the 2021 Special Session I by the General Assembly requires an employer to compensate certain employees at a rate not less than one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate […]
State General Fund Revenues Continue Strength in May; State Budget on Track for Surplus
Secretary of Finance Aubrey L. Layne, Jr. brought positive news to the Senate Finance and Appropriations and House Appropriations Committees in his last briefing to the “money committees” in his current role, as state General Fund revenues (GF) are on track to generate a significant surplus for FY 2021, bolstered by growing strength in the […]
Department of Taxation Releases Draft Guidelines for Local Plastic Bag Tax
On June 25, the Department of Taxation released draft guidelines for administration of the plastic bag tax, which was authorized in legislation that passed in 2020 (localities are authorized to impose the tax by ordinance, beginning January 1, 2021). The legislation provides that the tax will be administered by the Tax Commissioner in the same […]
Visit Tazewell, Russell, Wise, and Scott Counties and Clinch River State Park
SAINT PAUL—Governor Ralph Northam recently celebrated the official opening of Clinch River State Park, Virginia’s 41st state park and first blueway state park. Consisting of 696 acres, the park is situated across several small anchor properties and connected by multiple canoe-kayak access points along a 100-mile scenic stretch of the Clinch River. “With the dedication […]