Every day, sometimes every hour, new information emerges about the coronavirus. It is a challenge for our communities to know what further developments to anticipate and how to formulate an effective plan. VML will continue to update this page with resources for local officials to consider using as part of a plan of response.
Use the links below to jump to each topic
Coronavirus Relief Fund | Online Resources | Education & Schools | Announcements
Economy | Electronic Meetings
A message from VML President Thomas R. Smigiel: “I want to take a minute and acknowledge that in these alarming times I take comfort in all the encouraging signs I see from Virginia’s local governments and leaders. If we felt that we were resilient, strong and adaptable before this crisis hit, now we know it! We are greater than the sum of our parts…” Click here to read the full text >
A message from VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy: “It takes a locality. This platitude has taken on a new, deeper meaning as we look to our local officials to bear the responsibility of pulling our nation through a health crisis none save our grandparents or great-grandparents have ever known. We now find ourselves in a situation where it takes a locality (lots of localities) to save lots of lives…” Click here to read the full text >
FAQs, facts and updates related to the Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (“CARES Act”).
Primary Resources:
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- Aubrey L. Layne, Jr., Secretary of Finance: Letter regarding Extension for Expenditure of Coronavirus Relief Funds (Dec. 23)
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- Aubrey L. Layne, Jr., Secretary of Finance: Letter regarding new Deadline for Use of Local Allocations for Federal CARES Coronavirus Relief Funds (December 8)
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- VML Working Group: FAQs: Analysis of CARES Act Funding Questions Raised by Local Governments about Eligible Spending Purposes (Version 12). A regularly-updated, clickable resource addressing questions frequently asked of VML regarding the use and tracking of CARES Act funds by localities. Answers represent the reasonable judgement of a special VML Task Force and VML policy staff. (Updated October 26)
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- Virginia Department of Accounts: Spreadsheet to aid localities in the reporting of obligations and expenditures made with CARES Act dollars. (Added October 22)
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- Spreadsheet: Locality Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting Information as of June 30, 2020. (Added September 4)
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- U.S. Department of the Treasury: Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Update (July 31, 2020)
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- Loudoun County: CARES Act Funding for a Nonprofit Grant Program
Loudoun County has developed a set of policies and procedures for partnering with local nonprofit organizations. The document explains the County’s plan to continue or expand food assistance services and other important programs for its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. (August 19)
- Loudoun County: CARES Act Funding for a Nonprofit Grant Program
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- Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne: Memo regarding the “Second and Final Allocation of Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds” (July 28)
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- Certification for Receipt of Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments: Form to be used by localities
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- City of Newport News: The City has developed a spreadsheet to track staff payroll expenses tied to the City’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Other localities may find it serves as a useful template to create their own tracker. Download the spreadsheet here >
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- POLCO: VML partner organization, POLCO now offers localities the “National Community Survey CARES for COVID-19 Recovery.” This survey tool and online platform allow leaders to directly engage residents and receive accurate and actionable feedback. Learn more here >.
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- CGI: VML member business, CGI has begun offering a new suite of services to government clients to help track relief fund spending through revenue and receivables reviews, which includes collecting and analyzing trends and data with a focus on:
- Identifying gaps between current operations and best practices
- Identifying opportunities to implement change to improve outcomes
- Identifying potential areas of fraud and abuse
- Timing of receivables coming due and various approaches to collecting on those receivables
- CGI: VML member business, CGI has begun offering a new suite of services to government clients to help track relief fund spending through revenue and receivables reviews, which includes collecting and analyzing trends and data with a focus on:
For more information, contact Andrew Jennison, andrew.jennison@cgi.com
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- “Big 7” Sign-On Letter: Over 130 state and regional organizations, including VML, signed on to this letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to request direct aid to localities to address revenue shortfalls. Read the letter here >. (June 29)
- From the letter: “Unlike the federal government, these state and local governments must begin their fiscal years on time and with a balanced budget. If the Senate fails to act immediately to support state and local governments, our nation’s recovery from the pandemic-induced recession will suffer and millions of Americans will needlessly be harmed.”
- “Big 7” Sign-On Letter: Over 130 state and regional organizations, including VML, signed on to this letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to request direct aid to localities to address revenue shortfalls. Read the letter here >. (June 29)
Official websites, learning opportunities, surveys and other resources for localities.
Recently Added:
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- VML and Virginia Department of Health: Guidance for Localities – Response to COVID-19 Pandemic and Executive Order Requirements
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- Virginia Department of Health (VDH): Descriptions of VDH External Dashboards (November 19)
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- Virginia Department of Health (VDH): COVID Update from VDH (November 13, 2020) Presented to Northern Virginia’s chief administrative officers by Dan Carey, MD, MHCM, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Suzanne Trotter, RN, BSN, MA, COVID-19 Testing Project Manager.
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- Virginia Department of Health (VDH): COVIDWISE app information
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- Office of the Governor: COVIDWISE app one-pager (Aug. 6)
COVIDWISE allows you to anonymously notify others if you test positive for COVID-19, it notifies you if you’ve likely been exposed to the virus based on positive reports from other app users, and helps you understand the steps you should take to protect yourself and others.
- Office of the Governor: COVIDWISE app one-pager (Aug. 6)
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- City of Falls Church: These items were originally posted earlier, but continue to serve as useful guides to other localities.
- Summary of resources provided below:
- City of Falls Church Incident Command Chart (April 14)
- Reopening Road Map (Based on CDC, White House, & Gov. Northam’s Guidelines)
- Recovery Road Map (“White House” Model)
- COVID-19 payroll expenses (sample spreadsheet)
- COVID-19 supply expenses (sample spreadsheet)
- “Repurpose an Employee” Program (email outlining the program)
- Chronicle newsletter for city employees (example from April 23)
- Summary of resources provided below:
- City of Falls Church: These items were originally posted earlier, but continue to serve as useful guides to other localities.
Information and updates about plans to reopen schools.
Recently Added:
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- Virginia Department of Education: School Reopening FAQs (updated regularly)
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- Virginia Department of Education: Virginia’s Return to School Plan (updated regularly)
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- Johns Hopkins University: Analysis of School Reopening Plans (updated regularly)
Local, State and Federal executive orders, directives, guidelines, letters, and press releases.
Recently Added:
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- Office of the Governor: Executive Order Number Seventy-Two (2020) and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine – Common Sense Surge Restrictions – Certain Temporary Restrictions Due to Novel Coronavirus (December 10)
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- Office of the Governor: New Measures to Control COVID-19 in Amended EO63 and Sixth Amended EO67: Quick Facts & FAQs (last updated November 14, 2020)
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- Local Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association: Joint Statement Urging Virginians to Get Influenza Vaccinations to Protect Themselves when Flu Season Arrives as the COVID-19 Pandemic Remains a Public Health Threat. (September 22)
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- City of Alexandria: Face mask ordinance (to take effect October 1, 2020)
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- City of Charlottesville: Emergency ordinance (July 27, 2020)
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- Town of Blacksburg: Emergency ordinance (began August 12, 2020)
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- Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) Unemployment Benefits Update: July 20 Presentation to VML & Summary documents below:
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- Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits
- Workers on Furlough or Reduced Hours
- Virtual Hiring Event flyer
- Navigating the Unemployment Insurance Process During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Top 5 Reasons Why Applicants Have Not Received Benefits
- Unemployment Insurance Services Provided at the Virginia Career Works Centers
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- Office of Secretary of Veterans & Defense Affairs
Information, tools and studies related to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Recently added:
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- Virginia Housing Commission: The Housing Commission met on July 8th and talked about evictions and the impact on both landlords and tenants. The materials can be found here:
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- “Big 7” Sign-On Letter: Over 130 state and regional organizations, including VML, signed on to this letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to request direct aid to localities to address revenue shortfalls. Read the letter here >. (June 29)
- From the letter: “Unlike the federal government, these state and local governments must begin their fiscal years on time and with a balanced budget. If the Senate fails to act immediately to support state and local governments, our nation’s recovery from the pandemic-induced recession will suffer and millions of Americans will needlessly be harmed.”
- “Big 7” Sign-On Letter: Over 130 state and regional organizations, including VML, signed on to this letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to request direct aid to localities to address revenue shortfalls. Read the letter here >. (June 29)
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- Commonwealth of Virginia Secretary of Finance: Economic and Revenue Update – A Briefing for the Money Committees (May 2020). Includes:
- National and State Economic Indicators
- April Year-to-Date Revenue Collections, Fiscal Year 2020
- Next Steps
- Federal Stimulus Funds
- Commonwealth of Virginia Secretary of Finance: Economic and Revenue Update – A Briefing for the Money Committees (May 2020). Includes:
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- Local Government Attorneys of Virginia (LGA): Authority to Defer Local Tax Payments and Process for Doing So (April 7)
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- Budgeting in the age of COVID-19: A tool to measure sinking local revenues by Jim Regimbal, Fiscal Analytics (April 3)
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- COVID-19 Local Government Financial Management Resources from Virginia Tech.
With restrictions on gatherings, local governments can use these resources as guides on how to conduct their business remotely.
Note: Visit our Meeting Resources page for a list of platforms and services localities may want to consider for video streaming, video meetings, online voting, etc.
Primary Resources:
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- Local Government Attorneys of Virginia (LGA): COVID-19 Committee letter (May 1) regarding the 2020 Budget Amendment, Operating Policies, and Remote Meetings: Further support for electronic meetings during COVID-19 emergency. Localities should consult their attorneys for further guidance.
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- Local Government Attorneys of Virginia: Committee Report on Electronic Meetings (March 24).
Please be aware that while the report uses the recent opinion from Attorney General Herring as a road map, you should continue to consult with your legal advisor as you move forward with meetings. The report includes:
- Local Government Attorneys of Virginia: Committee Report on Electronic Meetings (March 24).
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- Checklist for holding completely electronic public meetings and ensuring public access
- Model ordinance and resolution that mirrors what some localities have already put into place.
- Appended example of a declaration of emergency (from Albemarle County) which may be helpful to those localities who have not yet declared one.
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- Sample document: Electronic Participation Policy (Can be used as a template for your own policy)
