eNews – July 26, 2024
Annual Conference preliminary agenda now available, VML policy committees meet, Chesapeake Bay cleanup input requested...and more!
Friday, July 26, 2024/Categories: eNews
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In this issue:
VML News
Finance
Natural Resources
Resources
VML News
Annual Conference: Preliminary agenda now available!
The link to the preliminary “Conference-at-a-Glance” agenda for the 2024 VML Annual Conference can be viewed/downloaded directly here >.
Please check the event page for future updates including the final agenda with session topics when it becomes available.
Some items to note:
- The programming for the Mayors Institute will take place at the Embassy Suites Oceanside (adjacent to the Marriott) on Sunday, Oct. 13. The Mayors Institute begins with breakfast at 8:30 AM and concludes at 4:00 PM.
- For those not attending the Mayors Institute, there will be General Sessions (with some fun activities included!) on Sunday, Oct. 13 beginning at 1:15 PM and concluding at 4:30 PM.
- There will be a “Pre-Game” reception for young electeds (40 and under) beginning at 4:30 PM on Sunday, Oct. 13 with the main reception beginning at 5:00 PM.
- The Awards Banquet followed by live entertainment will happen the evening of Sunday, Oct. 13.
- VML’s Annual Business Meeting will take place on Monday, Oct. 14 beginning at 3:00 PM.
Lodging updates:
- The VML room block for lodging Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Marriott Oceanside is currently sold out. Rooms are still available for Sunday, Oct. 13 – Tuesday, Oct. 15. We will update the Lodging section of the event page if rooms for Saturday night become available.
- Members can still reserve rooms at the VML rate for stays beginning Saturday, Oct. 12 at the adjacent Embassy Suites Oceanside.
See you at the beach!
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
VML policy committees meet to discuss wide array of issues
VML’s five policy committees began meeting last week and will wrap up their meeting schedule on July 31 when the Infrastructure Policy Committee holds its Zoom meeting.
The committees have addressed a wide range of issues and drafted language for their policy statements on issues including:
- Support local referendum and revenue authority in regard to skill games.
- Retain local authority in regulation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
- Support efforts to increase consumer disclosure in noise contour zones established in and around airports.
- Support efforts to apply for federal Medicaid waivers to help meet behavioral health and substance use needs in local and regional jails.
- Re-balance the distribution of excess circuit court clerks’ fees by once-again adhering to the Code of Virginia.
- Support state funding of the state assistance to local law enforcement program (HB 599).
- Support public education funding, including the ability of localities to seek a one percent sales tax to help pay for public school construction and renovation needs.
All the amended policy statements will soon be posted on the VML website for review by members before the statements are brought before the membership during the VML business meeting to be held the afternoon of Oct. 14, 2024, during the VML Annual Conference at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
VML & VRSA hosting free event in Clifton Forge August 14
Join VML and Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) staff at the History Masonic Theater in Clifton Forge the morning of August 14 for presentations on preparing for 2025 General Assembly, marijuana in the workplace, cybersecurity, and more!
The program will run from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This event is FREE to staff and officials from VML member localities. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Registration Contact: Register by emailing Jackie Stauffer, jstauffer@vrsa.us.
American Public University webinar on continuing education for local government staff: September 12
American Public University System (APUS) – a VML Community Business Member – is pleased to present an informational webinar on continuing education opportunities for local government staff on Thursday, September 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. with time afterward for Q&A. The presentation will include discussion of internal succession planning for agency leadership as well as continuing education opportunities for local government staff who wish to excel in their career.
Register for the free webinar here >.
This is also a great opportunity for VML local government member officials and staff to ask questions about the tuition savings available to them thanks to APUS’ league membership. Learn more at www.apupartners.com/vml.
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
Finance
FY2024 Cash Proffer survey is now available
Deadline is September 30, 2024
Section 15.2-2303.2 of the Code of Virginia requires the Virginia Commission on Local Government to annually survey the acceptance and use of cash proffers by eligible localities. The survey will assist the General Assembly in determining the amount of cash proffer revenues and expenditures of local governments and the purposes for which such expenditures were made during Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024). Accordingly, the Commission is asking the chief administrative officer or other appropriate official in each affected county, city, and town to provide essential information about their locality’s acceptance and use of cash proffers by completing the online survey linked below. The deadline for completing the survey is September 30, 2024.
The FY2024 Cash Proffer survey is live and available here: Cash Proffer Survey FY24.
If the link does not work, you can copy and paste the following into your web browser: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7837393/FY2024-Cash-Proffer-Survey
Please coordinate with others in your locality to ensure that you only submit one response on behalf of your locality. More information about the survey is also available on the Department of Housing and Community Development’s website. The data that you provide is an essential part of a report that the Commission will submit to the General Assembly by November 30, 2024.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and timely responses.
DHCD Contact: LeGrand Northcutt, legrand.northcutt@dhcd.virginia.gov
VML’s Finance Policy Committee meets and turns eyes toward 2025
During these long and hot summer days, as policy discussions at VML transition from what transpired during the 2024 Session to what we can expect in January, VML’s Finance Policy Committee met on Wednesday of this week to begin planning for next year. The Committee gathered virtually to review some of the fiscal issues that are top of mind for local government officials and how localities can share their insight on the potential impact of legislative proposals on their communities.
The Committee had a robust conversation about the exponential growth in costs to local governments of providing mandatory property tax exemptions as required by the Code of Virginia. Specifically, the Committee was apprised of recent statutory changes that, if approved by the voters this November, will expand the current tax exemption for real property available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty.
Based on data collected by the Commissioners of the Revenue in 2023, it is estimated that current mandates to provide local property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their spouses as well as the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action has increased from $8 million in CY2011 to $188 million in CY2023, a significant impact on local government revenues across the Commonwealth.
In fact, seven localities reported that mandatory property tax exemptions for these populations exceeded three percent of annual real estate revenues in 2023.
Participants in the meeting expressed an interest in continuing the conversation and strategizing about options to address the rising cost of these unfunded mandates. If you would like to be included in a work group to inform this conversation, please reach out to VML staff, Joe Flores at jflores@vml.org.
VML’s Finance Committee also heard a presentation from LeGrand Northcutt, staff to the Commission on Local Government, who explained the local fiscal impact statement process and the importance of local governments informing the Commission’s work (see above article).
The Commission is the entity that is responsible for assessing the fiscal impact of proposed legislation “Whenever any legislative bill requiring a net additional expenditure by any county, city, or town, or whenever any legislative bill requiring a net reduction of revenues by any county, city, or town, is filed during any session of the General Assembly.”
The requirement to conduct this analysis is modified by the phrase “to the extent practical”, because the ability of the Commission to assess the impact of proposed legislation on the finances of local governments is only as good as the timely and thoughtful input received from cities, towns, and counties.
For more details about this important process and how your locality can participate to ensure lawmakers have an accurate picture of the impact of proposed legislation on localities, please find Mr. Northcutt’s presentation here >.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
Natural Resources
Happening next week: Listening sessions on the future of the Chesapeake Bay Program in Hampton Roads and Harrisonburg
Virginia’s commitment to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay can be measured in decades and millions of dollars. It can also be measured by hundreds of local projects to reduce the amount of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorous) and sediment that end up in Chesapeake Bay Watershed waterways. With the approach of 2025, Virginia and other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are considering how to continue their progress cleaning up waterways into the decade beyond 2025.
The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) is comprised of local elected officials appointed by the Governor. LGAC has provided input and policy guidance for the Chesapeake Executive Council since 1987. LGAC is currently seeking input from local elected officials about how to continue the work of improving local waterways as part of the broader effort to clean up the bay.
There are two opportunities in the coming week to meet with LGAC members and provide feedback:
Hampton Roads Clean Water Roundtable
Shenandoah Valley Clean Water Roundtable
These events are open to elected and appointed officials and senior staff. Coffee and a light breakfast will be provided.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Resources
Summer edition of the National Civic Review now available
The National Civic League’s partnership with The Kettering Foundation continues with the summer edition of the National Civic Review, focusing, as does the Foundation, on the escalating threats to democracy globally and the urgent need for solutions. Articles in this edition highlight the need for genuine citizen engagement, democracy innovation, and public deliberation.
The online edition of the Review is now open access. You can read it here >.
NCL Contact: Rebecca Trout, rebeccat@ncl.org