VML pushes for mandates reform

VML and VACo staff met last week with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, Secretary of Finance Ric Brown and other members of the McDonnell Administration to talk about the effect of state mandates on local governments.  Bolling, who called the meeting, said that Gov. Bob McDonnell is contemplating pushing a number of government reforms in the 2012 General Assembly, a session likely to be dominated by yet another punishing state budget.

The discussion covered a wide range of topics.  VML had prepared in advance of the meeting a series of papers articulating local government concerns over budget reductions in state financial aid to localities, changes to the Line of Duty Act program, unfunded state requirements in public education, administrative problems in the Comprehensive Services Act, and other issues.  The information came from the work local governments did last year for the Governor’s Reform Commission Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations (chaired by Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim).

Upon concluding the meeting, Bolling asked the two local government organizations to submit a “top 10 list” of issues.  VML prepared a paper entitled Commonsense Strategic Reforms.  The paper, transmittal letter to the lieutenant governor, and attachments appear below.  In the past, state officials have asserted the notion that localities are unable to identify unfunded and under-funded mandates.  The information posted here makes it clear that the issue is real and much more than rhetoric in the minds of local government officials.

• Transmittal letter to Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and supporting documents (PDF)
• Information and testimony provided in 2010 to the Governor’s Reform Commission (PDF)
• Supporting documents and position papers (PDF)
• Commission on Local Government staff presentation to Governor’s Task Force for Local Government Mandate Review (PPT)