AGENDA DATE: 8/5/2015
TITLE:
Title
Proposed 2016 Legislative Priorities
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Consideration and approval of the proposed 2016 Legislative Priorities
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Davis, Blount
PRESENTER (S): Larry Davis
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: Each year the Board considers and approves its legislative priorities and submits them to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), and the Virginia Municipal League (VML). Generally, the TJPDC’s legislative program incorporates the County’s legislative priorities. Other initiatives are sometimes added prior to the General Assembly session. This executive summary will provide a review of the Board’s 2015 Legislative Priorities (Attach-ment B) and request the Board to review and approve the 2016 Legislative Priorities (Attachment A).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission: To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all citizens through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: A review of the County’s 2015 Legislative Priorities is provided in the attached “2015 Legislative Priorities Report” (Attachment B). The report includes details regarding previous action taken on the priorities, an assessment of what priorities should be continued in the future, and links to the final legislative reports of the TJPDC, VACo and VML.
Many of the proposed 2016 Legislative Priorities (Attachment A) are carried forward from 2015. Three specific previous priorities have been removed as set out below due to legislation being approved by the General Assembly to address the request or a determination regarding the legality of the request.
Local Government Administration and Finance
Personal Property Tax
The County supported legislation to amend Virginia Code § 58.1-3518 to provide that the commissioner of the revenue or Finance Director may elect not to require the reporting of property with an original cost of less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) on a business personal property tax return.
The General Assembly passed HB 2098, introduced by Delegate Toscano, which enables a locality to establish miscellaneous and incidental property used in a trade or business with an original cost of less than $250 as a separate classification of tangible personal property for taxation purposes, and that a locality may allow a taxpayer to provide an aggregate estimate of the total cost of all such property owned by the taxpayer that qualifies under the classification in lieu of a specific, itemized list.
Voting Precincts
The County requested the General Assembly to eliminate split Virginia Senate precincts to the extent possible. The Virginia Senate redistricting plan has created split precincts in the Jack Jouett, Rio and Rivanna Magisterial Districts. The Jack Jouett precinct is split between the 17th and 25th Senate Districts in two places. The Woodbrook precinct is split between the 17th and 25th Senate Districts and the Stony Point precinct is split between the 17th and 25th Senate Precincts.
The General Assembly passed SB 1237, introduced by Senator Reeves, which would have exchanged two precincts and reunited two split precincts with the required district population remaining at less than two percent, however, Governor McAullife determined that the legislation was not legal and vetoed the bill.
Growth Management, Land Use and Transportation
Storm Water Utility Waiver
The County requested the General Assembly to amend Virginia Code § 15.2-2114 to provide that a public entity qualifies for a waiver under Virginia Code § 15.2-2114(C) from the imposition of stormwater utility charges where the public entity’s real property is covered by a municipal separate stormwater system permit (“MS4”), even though the public entity is not the MS4 permit holder.
The General Assembly passed SB 1047, introduced by Senator Hanger, which provides for a waiver of stormwater utility charges for property owned by the school board of one locality and located in another adjoining locality if the localities have a revenue sharing agreement and the school board property is subject to an MS4 permit.
BUDGET IMPACT: The County’s legislative priorities seek to ensure that the state adequately funds its mandated responsibilities and does not jeopardize the County’s ability to effectively and efficiently implement the policies (including fiscal) and programs that it deems necessary. There are no specific, identifiable budget impacts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board approve the proposed 2016 Legislative Priorities (Attachment A), and any additions it feels are appropriate, for submission to the TJPDC, VACo and VML.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed 2016 Legislative Priorities
B - 2015 Legislative Priorities Report