eNews – August 15, 2025
See The Wailers the night before VML's conference, Deadline for Innovation Award submissions is approaching, ADA compliance webinar coming soon...and more!
Friday, August 15, 2025/Categories: eNews
This edition of eNews is sponsored by Kimley-Horn whose engineers, planners, and environmental scientists apply creativity and rigor to deliver outstanding results. Learn more >
In this issue:
VML News
Finance
Housing
Health & Human Services
Transportation
Natural Resources
Opportunities
VML News
Pre-Conference Opportunity: See The Wailers in Rocky Mount the evening of Oct. 11
For VML members attending our Mayors Institute or arriving early for our Annual Conference, we’ve got something unique and fun for you!
VML and the Town of Rocky Mount are pleased to offer discounted tickets to The Wailers (yes, that’s The Wailers of Bob Marley fame!) performing at The Harvester Performance Center at 8:00 PM on Oct. 11.
Seats are $45 each and are available until Sept. 3.
Purchase tickets here >
A note on transportation – Those attending the event should be prepared to provide their own transportation. However, if a significant number of VML Conference attendees purchase tickets, group transportation will be an option.
Make an evening of it!
Doors for the show open at 7:00 PM, so get to Rocky Mount early to experience the amazing dining options a short walk (or drive) from The Harvester. Learn more about all the nearby dining options here >.
About The Wailers
The Wailers are a rare breed of musicians who have earned their place in the annals of music history. Their culture-defining music, embodying the spirit of the 70s reggae movement, has left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Experience the magic of their timeless classics and incredible cuts from Bob Marley’s vast repertoire in a set that is truly unforgettable. Under the guidance of Aston Barrett Jr, son of the legendary “Familyman”, The Wailers continue to preserve the legacy of their iconic sound.
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
Free webinar August 26: Get ready for the new ADA requirements for local government websites and mobile apps
Join Adobe and the Virginia Municipal League for "Making Digital Documents Accessible" – an informative virtual session focused on helping local governments comply with the U.S. Department of Justice's recent ruling under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA is the technical standard for state and local governments' web content and mobile apps.
State and local governments with more than 50,000 residents must be compliant with the new regulations by April 24, 2026.
With the April 2026 deadline approaching, this webinar will explore how Adobe's tools-like auto-tagging for PDFs-can streamline the remediation process and can help your efforts to ensure your digital content aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Learn how to scale accessibility across your agency efficiently while ensuring an inclusive experience for all residents.
Please join us on Zoom Tuesday, August 26, at 11:00 AM.
Register for the webinar here >.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org
Deadline to submit entries for VML’s Innovation Awards is August 25!
Don’t miss this premiere opportunity to spotlight innovative programs that make your town, city or county a great place for people to call home.
The Virginia Municipal League’s Innovation Awards celebrate the programs and individuals that make it possible for our local governments to solve pressing problems, address emerging needs, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Local governments of all sizes are encouraged to compete for coveted Innovation Awards across seven categories. The entries will be judged based on the scope and results of the project in relation to the community’s size, thereby putting all localities on a level playing field.
One of the seven category winners will be selected for the prestigious President’s Award for Innovation. The winner of the President’s Award will be revealed when all the award winners are honored during the Awards Banquet at the VML Annual Conference in Roanoke in October.
The deadline to submit entries is 5pm on August 25.
Learn more and download the entry form on VML’s website here >.
VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org
Finance
Governor Youngkin declares Virginia financially strong
Declaring that Virginia is as financially strong as ever and that many of the concerns expressed earlier this year about the potential impact of federal job and funding cuts “have receded,” Governor Glenn Youngkin painted a bright picture of Virginia’s economic situation during his fiscal year 2025 budget wrap up report to the members of the General Assembly’s finance and budget committees on Aug. 14.
Youngkin pointed to the budget surplus in FY2025, and carry-overs created a $1.7 billion cash cushion as the state heads in FY2026. He said the cash cushion and the prudent nature of the 2026 forecast gave him great confidence that the commonwealth can follow through with the budget for the second year of the biennium.
Youngkin also pointed to Virginia’s economic development successes, business investments, and job creation as foundation for Virginia’s current and future financial strength and urged continuing on that path for future success.
Although Youngkin said that many of the concerns from the federal level had receded, he conceded that some persisted, including the expected reduction in the federal workforce and how quickly those Virginians can find new opportunities. He noted that roughly 250,000 jobs were available and unfilled. He didn’t mention if those opportunities were in the areas where job losses are being experienced.
Other factors he noted about Virginia’s financial picture:
- Virginia’s rainy day fund balances as of the end of FY2025 are $4.7 billion.
- General fund revenues grew by more than six percent over the last fiscal year.
- Sales tax collection came in 2.2 percent higher compared to this time last year.
- Individual income taxes were up 7.8 percent in 2025; while corporate income taxes were down 1.5 percent.
- Given the strong performance, FY2026 forecasted revenue requires growth of only $127 million, or 0.4 percent over 2025 to meet the budget.
Regarding federal budget changes, Youngkin said that changes in Medicaid “are not taking coverage away from anyone,” no matter what others (like the Congressional Budget Office) are saying. While Youngkin did not take questions from legislators during his presentation, his Secretary of Finance, Stephen Cummings, got several questions and comments from legislators on this point during his presentation following Youngkin’s speech.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
House committee continues examination of federal reductions
Preliminary analysis of the recent federal actions from passage of H.R. 1 and other federal reductions were the subject of presentations during the meeting of the House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions on Aug. 14 in Richmond.
The committee of 12 House members was appointed by House Speaker Don Scott near the end of the 2025 General Assembly session.
The committee received an update from House Appropriation staff on what is known so far about the impact of federal spending in Virginia and impact of impending cuts and job losses:
- Overall, about 24 percent of Virginia’s economy relies on federal spending, which includes serving as an employer of civilian and military jobs, a consumer of goods and services through contracts with the private sector, and as an investor in basic government services and programs through grants to the state and local governments and other entities.
- Consequences of federal spending cuts and workforce reductions include job losses, decreased tax revenue for state and local budgets, and reduction of basic government services that cannot be absorbed by other public sector budgets (i.e., state and local).
- Virginia’s private sector is vulnerable to job losses as well because federal spending on goods and services through contracting drives overall federal spending in Virginia with about $1 in every $7 of federal contract money spent in Virginia. In 2023 the federal government spent $109 billion with Virginia employers through primarily defense and VA contracts.
- Major areas of concern for the state include changes to SNAP, Medicaid, health insurance premium tax credits, higher education access and affordability, and federal tax policy changes.
State agencies, General Assembly budget staff, and stakeholders continue to evaluate the impact of significant programmatic policy changes included in H.R. 1; federal rulemaking will add another layer as state and local policy makers sift through the impact of the changes included in H.R. 1.
The staff update provided to committee is available here >.
The committee also heard from specific programs affected by federal changes and reductions, including the Department of Medical Assistance Services (Medicaid presentation available here), and the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange (health insurance and premium tax credits presentation available here), and higher education (presentation available here).
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Housing
Join Senator Mark Warner and other stakeholders for the “Keys to Housing Affordability Summit” in Richmond on Sept. 8
The half-day “Keys to Housing Affordability Summit” will bring together local elected officials, housing and economic development leaders, and nonprofit partners from across the Commonwealth to share innovative solutions and discuss the future of housing affordability in Virginia.
The summit will take place at The Westin Richmond (6631 West Broad Street, 23230) from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Monday, Sept. 8.
The summit will conclude with a fireside chat with Senator Warner and Virginia Housing CEO Tammy Neale where Senator Warner will discuss his Road to Housing national legislative agenda—charting a bold path forward to address housing challenges in Virginia and across the country.
There is no fee, but registration is required
Information and registration here >.
Office of Senator Mark Warner Contact: Louise Arnatt Kadiri, Lou_Kadiri@warner.senate.gov
Health & Human Services
Youngkin administration announces SNAP error rate initiative
H.R. 1, the federal spending reconciliation bill passed in July, includes new requirements and costs for states (and potentially localities) regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beginning Oct. 1, 2027.
Beginning on that date, states with payment error rates above six percent (which includes all but five states) will be required to contribute a state match depending on the level of their error rates, up to 15 percent of the total benefit amount paid. For Virginia, with the 11.5 percent error rate, the cost would be $270 million annually.
Local departments of social services are responsible for eligibility determination for an array of services, including SNAP. The error rates, as determined by the federal governments, are based on very small samples from local offices. They include cases in which families receive fewer benefits than they qualify for as well as overpayment of benefits.
On Aug. 14, the Youngkin Administration announced an effort headed by Secretary of Health and Human Resources, along with the Commissioner of Social Servies and Secretary of Finance, to address Virginia’s error rate with the goal of bringing it down to less than the six percent threshold for federal financial penalties.
Steps to be taken include:
- Create an incentive and disincentive program to encourage local agencies to adopt best practices in error rate reduction;
- Require all local benefit staff to complete training;
- Require local benefits staff to verify applicant expenses and household composition instead of accepting self-attestation;
- Look into public-private partnerships to free up capacity at local social services offices to allow more effort to be directed toward reducing SNAP error rates;
- Institute system reform and increase quality control measures using contractors when necessary; and
- Explore the feasibility of contracting with a vendor to use new technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve accuracy and to automate SNAP decisions.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Transportation
Local input needed: Federal transportation legislation
The National League of Cities (NLC) is seeking input from local governments as Congress discusses reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Act which directs federal funding to transportation systems ranging from roads, transit to passenger rail (and more).
Below are two, time sensitive messages from NLC requesting input from local governments to the USDOT and about a virtual briefing on Monday.
- SHARE YOUR TRANSPORTATION PRIORITES BY 8/20: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has an open Request for Information on Transportation Reauthorization (DOT-OST-2025-0468-0001) to solicit input from all local governments that’s open until next Wednesday, August 20th. NLC has provided a template response for any local government to leverage to quickly edit and respond before the deadline here - NLC RFI Transpo Reauth Response Shared .docx.
- LET’S WORK WITH CONGRESS ON THE NEXT BILL: Congress is preparing for the next federal transportation bill now so it’s the right time to be in touch with Senators and your Members of Congress and their staffers about your transportation needs. Please join us for NLC’s next virtual briefing on Monday, August 18 at 4:00 PM ET to make sure your city has been heard by Congress as they prepare the next federal transportation bill and is ready to submit transportation priorities to USDOT next week. Register here!
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Natural Resources
Help shape the future of Chesapeake Bay restoration
Local governments are crucial partners in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and now is a critical time to help shape the future of this work. The Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership is revising the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, a road map to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
From July 1 through September 1, the Partnership is accepting public feedback on these proposed changes. Input from local governments is vital to ensure the updated goals and strategies reflect real-world needs and on-the-ground priorities.
Ready to make your voice heard? Submit comments on the draft revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement via email to comments@chesapeakebay.net.
Have questions or want to learn more before submitting feedback? Check out this handy fact sheet tailored specifically for local governments.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Opportunities
VCEF survey will assess childcare needs of employers, including local governments
VECF, the VA Chamber, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond are launching a statewide survey of employers about their childcare needs, impacts etc. Given that local governments are significant employers, we hope you will consider taking the survey below.
In light of Virginia’s ongoing labor shortage, the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce are conducting a brief survey to better understand how childcare availability impacts employers across the state.
We invite you to take a short survey focused on:
- The effects of childcare challenges on workforce recruitment, retention, and productivity.
- Employer strategies to support access to childcare for working families.
Your input will directly inform policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Virginia’s child care system, helping to address the labor shortage and ensure our state remains one of the best places in the nation to do business.
To complete the survey, please click here >.
We encourage you to complete the survey as soon as possible. Responses will be accepted through August 20th, 2025.
Contact: Dr. Melissa Dahlin, MelissaD@PolicyEquity.com
Discounted rate available for NLC’s High Performance Leadership Academy for local government leaders
Staff and officials from VML member localities are eligible for NLC member rates!
Designed to make existing leaders better and emerging leaders ready to address the most pressing issues of our day, the Professional Development Academy and the National League of Cities’ (NLC) High Performance Leadership Academy has been expertly designed to equip local government leaders with the skills necessary to navigate the complexity of change, align competing priorities to provide the greatest value possible, and leverage the mutual gains approach to negotiation and collaboration to do more with less – all relevant challenges in local government today.
If training funds are tight this year, NLC is sponsoring a 67% discount for cities enrolling 5+ participants in the High Performance Leadership Academy this September — dropping tuition from $2,995 to $1,000 per person.
Seats are limited and enrollment closes soon, so this is a timely way to stretch your training budget without sacrificing quality.
Program at a Glance (Sept 15 – Dec 19, 2025):
- Practical & Proven: Developed by top leaders, including General Colin Powell, covering change leadership, high-performance management, and collaboration.
- Flexible: ~45 min/day self-paced modules, weekly peer discussions, and short leadership webinars.
- All Online: No travel, sessions recorded, fits busy schedules.
- Recognized: CEUs available through HRCI, SHRM, IAAO, IIMC, and more.
- Trusted in Virginia: Cities like Virginia Beach, Richmond, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Petersburg etc... have all participated—many sending multiple cohorts.
NLC Member Pricing (Retail $2,995):
- 1 participant: $2,000
- 2–4 participants: $1,500 each
- 5+ participants: $1,000 each (67% discount)
Additional Details: www.nlc.org/partner/professional-development-academy
Professional Development Academy Contact: Mark Speck, mspeck@pdaleadership.com
UVA offering Effective Collaboration Training on September 11
The University of Virginia’s Institute for Engagement & Negotiation (IEN) will hold its second class (Community Engagement Design for Effective Collaboration) in its new Community-Based Facilitation certificate series on September 11, 2025. Registration is now open and filling up fast! This training is intended for natural resource professionals to be able to address challenging issues by engaging with the community effectively. This training is aimed at helping them learn the skills to do just that.
UVA Contact: J. Michael Foreman, jmf2py@virginia.edu
Summer edition of the National Civic Review now available
The summer issue of the National Civic Review explores how communities are revitalizing democracy through civic tradition, collaborative leadership, and local innovation. Articles highlight the promise of citizen-focused democracy, strategies like fusion voting, and reforms to make public meetings more inclusive. Contributors examine how storytelling shapes civic life, how cities are improving street safety, and what today’s local leaders can learn from historical figures. Together, these stories offer a hopeful view of how American communities can revitalize democracy through shared purpose, strategic innovation, and local leadership.
Explore the online edition of NCR, made possible through VML's partnership with the National Civic League. Access it here >.
NCL Contact: Rebecca Trout, rebeccat@ncl.org