When Virginia’s General Assembly convenes, beginning on draft Jan. 17, 2017, Chesterfield County will not be sitting on its laurels waiting to see what happens. The Board of Supervisors last week considered the draft legislation program.
Each year, Chesterfield sends a representative to the General Assembly to support or oppose particular legislation. Education has always been a priority for the county, and this year, maintaining K-12 funding and flexibility in the use of the funds. Chesterfield’s focus on transportation funding is in also in the support column as is that noted above.
The Short session ends in February after the state budget shortfall can be sifted out and a huge number of bills to consider (2,000 to 3,000.)
“We will be looking to what they are doing to balance the FYl 2017 state budget,” said Maryanne Curtin,Legislative Liaison for Chesterfield.
She said that the FY 2018 budget will dealt with during the session.
Ms. Curtin also indicated in her presentation of her draft Legislation program that “In 2017 we will be seeing all the statewide elections, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, as well as all state Senators and Delegates. During these times, we often hear bills that are more about politics than policy.”
Funds for local government not only come for local residents but trickle down not only from the state but the federal government as well.
“If we have another round of federal sequestration, which we won’t know more about until January, obviously there will be impacts on the state budget as relates to the number of federal employees up in northern Virginia.”
Strategic goals for Chesterfield during the General Assembly include not only safety and security, economic prosperity and educational excellence, thriving communities and environment stewardship but others important to the County.
This year Curtin will be carrying with her the results of what the community has indicated through the County’s Blueprint Chesterfield project what is most important to citizens here.
Over 39 days (Jun. 28 – Aug. 5) Blueprint Chesterfield got 6200 people to respond to the online survey, over 200 people attended three community workshops, and 17 community events delivered over 15,000 Blueprint cards.
Citizens during the survey where most concerned with education, roads and public safety. The Blueprint top results have been melded with what the legislative agenda that was planned. Citizens were more interested in the same things that Chesterfield government would have taken to the Capitol for its lobbying efforts.
In a presentation during the Oct. 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, Curtin, under the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, will carry a request for modernized language in the County Charter, (basically a list of ordinances.) Curtin gave an example of days when the county had an appointed a school board rather than an elected board. The General Assembly must approve all changes in charters in counties across Virginia.
An important issue for the south eastern end of the County is adding technology zones to the provisions allowing local tax exceptions for structures over 15 years of age in Enterprise Zones. This request will result in more opportunity for the Bermuda and Dale Magisterial Districts.
