Overheard - Virginia Municipal League

Cities • Towns • Counties
AUGUST 23, 2013
The newsletter
of the Virginia
Municipal League
Budgets | Capitol | Congress | Economy | Courts | League | Jobs | Upcoming | Etcetera
Inside
Governor explains
FY13 budget
‘surplus’ >
Housing rebound:
New construction,
sales climb >
Pedal power: Tour
Arlington by bike
to kick-off Annual
Conference >
Aug. 28 webinar
will focus on
health insurance
marketplace >
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Reminder
The task force examining
possible improvements to
the process for developing
fiscal impact statements
for legislation affecting
local governments will
meet Monday at 10 a.m.
at the Virginia Housing
Center in Henrico County.
Additional information is
available at
http://1.usa.gov/147caWQ.
Executive director named
to replace Amyx at VML
The deputy director of the League of Kansas Municipalities has been
chosen to replace Mike Amyx as executive director of VML beginning Jan. 1.
Kimberly A. Winn, 45, was picked by the 13-member VML Executive Committee to lead the association staff following a nationwide search. The committee
interviewed six finalists culled from a field of 42 applicants.
“I am truly honored to have been selected to serve as the next executive director of the Virginia Municipal League,” Winn said. “Over the past 108 years, VML
has exhibited a tradition of excellence. I am excited to be moving to the beautiful
state of Virginia to become a part of this tradition.”
As deputy director in Kansas, Winn is involved in nearly all aspects of the organization, including staffing, budgeting and legal services. She oversees communications, advocacy and education functions, including training for local officials. In
addition, she serves as the executive secretary of the Kansas Association of City/
County Management.
A 1990 graduate of Yale University, Winn also holds an MPA from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law. She has
worked for the Kansas league in Topeka since 1995 and is a native of Kansas City,
Kansas. “Kim’s qualifications and experience are outstanding,” said VML President Ed
Daley, who oversaw the search process. “The Executive Committee is delighted
that she accepted the offer.”
Although Winn’s official start date is Jan. 1, she will attend the VML Annual
Conference in Arlington in October and is expected to spend some time in the
Continues on next page
Overheard ...
“Longer life expectancies, changing demographics and
soaring costs explain why entitlements as we know
them today are unsustainable. … The biggest threat
imaginable to Medicare or Social Security will be if we
do nothing at all.”
… From a June 19 speech about the essential need for entitlement reform by U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Executive Vice President Bruce Josten to the chamber’s Board of Directors.
AUG.
2 6 , 2230, 1210 1 3
AUGUST
VML
N
EWS NEWSLET T ER
NEWS
Page 2
At the league
Executive director continued ...
league office with Amyx in December. Amyx, who has served as executive director since 1980, is retiring.
“We look forward to her attending the conference in Arlington,” Daley said. “I’m sure the membership will use
this as an opportunity to begin acclimating Kim to the issues confronting Virginia local governments.” Winn will be joined in Virginia by her husband, Deric, two children – Christopher (age 7) and Quinton (age 5),
and her mother.
From the capitol
Governor explains FY13 budget ‘surplus’
Gov. Bob McDonnell basked in some good news on Monday in a speech to the legislature’s joint money
committees touting a $585 million budget “surplus” for FY13. It was the state’s largest surplus since 2005, driving
the cumulative surplus for the last four years to nearly $2 billion.
The budget surplus is made up of two sources. The first is an additional $264.3 million in general fund revenue
collections and transfers above the official budget estimate. This figure is up slightly from the initial $261.9
million estimated in July by the administration (http://bit.ly/18K5VfD). It was derived mostly from (1) higher
receipts from non-withholding payments from individuals, (2) lower individual income tax refunds, and (3) higher
recordation tax collections.
The larger source of $320.7 million is comprised of balances, savings and recoveries from unexpended general fund
appropriations and other unexpended non-general funds that must be reported on the general fund balance sheet.
Local governments will be disappointed to learn that the governor has little flexibility in determining the
allocation of the surplus. The state constitution and state laws have first dibs. The table below from McDonnell’s
office shows how the money will be distributed.
Distribution of surplus ($ millions)
Uses
Non-general funds reported as general fund
Rainy Day Fund FY15 and FY16 requirements
Restoration of capital outlay projects
Natural disaster sum sufficient
Accelerated sales tax for Transportation Trust
Water Quality Improvement Fund – Part A
Water Quality Improvement Fund – Part B
Federal Action Contingency Trust Fund
Other assignments – federal refunds
Mandatory re-appropriations
Discretionary re-appropriations
TOTALS
Revenues &
transfers
-$218.9
--$21.7
$26.4
-----$267
Unexpended
balances
$69.8
-$0.5
$34.5
--$5.1
$22.5
$4.9
$134.7
$46.1
$318
Total
$69.8
$218.9
$0.5
$34.5
$21.7
$26.4
$5.1
$22.5
$4.9
$134.7
$46.1
$585
Observations
Other than the $27.4 million available for point source and non-point source water quality projects, the remaining $557.6 million of budget “surplus” has little, if any, impact on state-mandated or state-high priority services
continues on next page
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE
AUGUS T 2 3 , 2 0 1 3
VML
N EWS NEWSLET T ER
From the capitol
The economy
FY13 budget ‘surplus’
continued ...
delivered by local governments.
A budget surplus is more a creation of art than
science. Expenses that are ignored or postponed as a
matter of political choice help contribute to a “surplus” even though obligations are unmet or unfilled.
For example, the state shortchanged the Virginia
Retirement System in the 2010 legislative session by
more than $600 million in contributions, helping to
produce a surplus of more than $500 million in FY11
and an almost $450 million surplus in FY12. Also,
according to the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal
Analysis, state support for public colleges and universities is down 8 percent even while enrollment climbed
by 24 percent.
Lastly, as McDonnell told the senators and delegates, “before we get complacent about our improving fiscal situation, we must acknowledge that the way
ahead remains uncertain.” He identified a number of
issues that the new governor and General Assembly
will have to address next year, including reacting to
federal policies (and indecision) that affect sequestration and defense spending, funding VRS using realistic investment assumptions, carrying out the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice
regarding the treatment of Virginians with intellectual
and developmental disabilities, implementing healthcare reform, and re-basing K-12 education.
$1,400.0
$1,000.0
$800.0
$600.0
$400.0
$200.0
$0.0
Housing rebound: New
construction, sales climb
The U.S. Census Bureau and Department of
Housing and Urban Development reported last week
that new housing starts in July rose to an annual
seasonally-adjusted rate of 896,000, an increase of
5.9 percent from the upwardly revised May rate of
846,000 and a gain of 20.9 percent above the July
2012 rate.
The National Association of Homebuilders
(NAHB) also reported last week a three-point rise in
builder confidence in August to 59, the highest reading for the index since January 2006.
RealtyTrac, a private company with the largest database of foreclosed, auction and bank-owned homes
for investors and homebuyers, reported that the number of foreclosure filings – default notices, scheduled
auctions and bank repossessions – fell 30 percent in
July from a year ago. July’s 1,869 properties with
foreclosure filings were 74 percent below the peak of
7,245 properties in December 2008. Although this
is good news, prior to the housing bubble burst the
average number of properties in financial trouble was
297 per month.
At the local level, foreclosure activity in the Richmond area dropped nearly 40 percent from a year
earlier. The 283 properties with foreclosure filings in
the Richmond metro region was 79 percent below the
October 2010 peak, but well above an average of 39
properties that received filings before the housing
Revenue Stabilization Fund - June 30 Balances
market tanked in September 2007.
FY2000-FY2013 Actual and FY2014-2016 Forecast
In the Fredericksburg area, home sales hit a
seven-year high in July, according to data re$1,189.8
leased last week by the Metropolitan Regional
$1,064.7
$1,019.5
Information Systems. The median price of
$1,014.9
$938.4
$253,500 was up about 11 percent year-over$715.6
year. The month’s total sales volume of nearly
$687.8
$574.6
$575.1
$135 million was up almost 45 percent from
$439.9
$482.3
$472.4
$295.2
$303.6
July 2012. Roughly 12 percent of the sales were
$340.1
$299.4
$247.5
foreclosures.
The improving housing market will eventually show up in property assessments, providing a
long-awaited boost to local revenues. Real estate
taxes
make up roughly 52 percent of all local
Fiscal Years
revenues.
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
millions of dollars
$1,200.0
Page 3
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE
AUGUS T 2 3 , 2 0 1 3
VML
N EWS NEWSLET T ER
At the league
Page 4
Other conference speakers will include:
• Jacquelyn E. Johnson, the president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials,
will address the NBC-LEO luncheon on Monday. Johnson is a city council member from East
Orange, N.J.
Pedal power:
Tour Arlington by bike
to kick-off Annual
Conference
Looking for something a little different to
do on the first day of VML’s annual conference? Join
Arlington Board Member Jay Fisette and county staff
Oct. 13 on a leisurely-paced bicycle tour of Arlington.
Take in the views of monuments in Arlington County
and the District of Columbia, learn about Arlington’s transit-orientated development, and
experience first-hand Arlington’s premier
bicycle-friendly transportation system. The cost is $20. Additional details will be
forthcoming, but all you’ll need to bring
is yourself. Bicycles, helmets, water, etc.,
will be provided.
In addition to the bicycle outing on
Sunday afternoon, here are several other
program additions to note:
• Ed McMahon, a senior fellow at the Urban Land
Institute, will explore the ingredients of successful communities and economic development in
the 21st century when he delivers a keynote address on Monday morning, Oct. 14.
• Also during the Monday morning general session, retired Navy Capt. Mark Adamshick will
speak on leadership and ethics. Adamshick is
chair for the Study of Officership at the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic,
United States Military Academy.
• In addition, gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe have been invited to
address the conference.
The Monday morning general session will be
followed by an assortment of workshops on topics
ranging from land use liability and Governmental Accounting Standards Boards requirements to addressing problems associated with blighted properties.
Also, it’s not too late to sign up for VML’s first-ever
mobile workshop that will demonstrate on how Arlington has successfully connected development in the
county with transportation initiatives. The Monday
afternoon outing will allow participants to see those
connections with their own eyes.
• Bob O’Neill, the executive director of the International City/County Management Association,
will give a keynote address at the Virginia Local
Government Management Luncheon, also to be
held on Monday.
• At Tuesday morning’s general session, John
Martin, president and CEO of the Southeastern
Institute of Research and the Boomer
Project, will explore how local governments can respond to changing demographics.
Following the general session, an array
of workshops and roundtables, as well as
the annual business meeting, will round
out the day. The conference will conclude with a banquet Tuesday night that
will feature the presentation of awards,
entertainment by the Capitol Steps and remarks from
the outgoing and incoming presidents.
In addition, the spouses program on Monday will
include a tour of the Arlington House, the Robert E.
Lee Memorial located in Arlington Cemetery, followed by lunch and a tour at the Women in Military
Service for America Memorial, also located in the
cemetery.
Etcetera
Aug. 28 webinar
will focus on health
insurance marketplace
Beginning Oct. 1, a new Health Insurance
Marketplace will open in every state, as a part of the
federal Affordable Care Act. Individuals will not be
the only ones to benefit; employers with fewer than 50
workers, including local governments, will also be able
to take advantage of the state’s Small Business Health
Insurance Options Program (SHOP). SHOP will give
small employers and their employees some of the ad-
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE
continues on next page
AUGUS T 2 3 , 2 0 1 3
VML
N EWS NEWSLET T ER
Etcetera
Page 5
Development Process Specialist,
Falls Church
SALARY: $35,601 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Webinar continued ...
vantages large employers have today, including choices
among quality health plans to meet every budget.
Last week, VML distributed to its members the
toolkit the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) put together for elected officials on the
Health Insurance Marketplace.
The National League of Cities and HHS will
conduct a webinar at 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Aug. 28)
explaining the Health Insurance Marketplace and
SHOP, with information on how elected officials can
help residents and small businesses obtain the health
care coverage they need.
The hour-long learning session will cover:
• How elected officials can help their constituents
and smaller businesses obtain the health insurance they need and deserve;
• How the Health Insurance Marketplace and
SHOP will work;
• Information about subsidies for individuals who
need health insurance but whose incomes are
too low to afford it;
• How a city can become a “Certified Application
Counselor;” and
• Basic information every American should have
about the Affordable Care Act.
For more information and to register for the webinar, go to: http://bit.ly/1738lF6.
Assistant Director of Finance,
Goochland County
SALARY: $54,000-$62,000 hiring range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Deadline: Sept. 16.
Athletics Maintenance Coordinator,
Chesapeake
SALARY: $38,446 negotiable (+) benefits. Deadline: Sept. 6.
Treasurer, Windsor
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Town Engineer – Wastewater (Engineering
and GIS Department), Blacksburg
SALARY: $48,425-$60,531 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 6.
Human Resources Analyst I (Staffing and
Compensation Division), Virginia Beach
SALARY: $43,478-$65,127 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 6.
Systems Analyst (Public Works),
Harrisonburg
SALARY: $33,259-$39,041 preferred hiring range (+) benefits. Open until filled.
GIS Technician (Community Development),
Harrisonburg
SALARY: $33,259-$39,041 preferred hiring range (+) benefits.
Open until filled.
Clinician I, Chesapeake
SALARY: $36,887 (+) benefits. Deadline: Aug. 29.
Clinician III, Chesapeake
SALARY: $42,734 (+) benefits. Deadline: Aug. 29.
Job opportunities
Computer Analyst (Part-time),
Greene County
SALARY: Negotiable DOQ/DOE. Deadline: Sept. 6.
Longer version of job ads
posted at www.vml.org
Town Attorney (Part-time), Dumfries
VML maintains a detailed listing of local government job openings on its website at http://www.vml.
org/JOBS/Jobs.html. The most recent jobs posted as
of Wednesday morning, Aug. 21, include:
SALARY: $80,000-$84,999 DOQ/DOE (+) some benefits. Open
until filled.
Librarian I, Chesapeake
SALARY: $40,005 (+) benefits. Deadline: Sept. 12.
Athletics Coordinator, Chesapeake
SALARY: $46,242-$71,675 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 13.
Police Chief, Newport News
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Public Utilities Director, Newport News
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE
continues on next page
AUGUS T 2 3 , 2 0 1 3
VML
N EWS NEWSLET T ER
Job opportunities
Page 6
Downtown Manager (part-time), Strasburg
SALARY: $15-$20 per hr. DOQ/DOE; no benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 10.
Copy Writer, Prince William
County Service Authority
SALARY: $41,148-$53,733 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Aug. 26.
Planning / Zoning Services Manager
(Community Development Department),
Manassas
SALARY: $71,385-$117,769 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Housing Development Supervisor
(Department of Community Planning,
Housing, and Development), Arlington
SALARY: $61,921-$124,051 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Recreation Coordinator – Aquatics Services
(Parks and Recreation Department),
Winchester
SALARY: $39,291-$62,857 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Electric Compliance Coordinator
(Utilities-Power & Light), Danville
SALARY: $39,333-$47,199 start range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Open until filled.
Civil Engineer (Public Works Department),
Ashland
SALARY: $49,807-$66,418 hiring range (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 4.
Computer and Network Support Technician,
Winchester
Water Treatment Plant Operator II
(Public Services Department), Winchester
SALARY: $32,323-$51,729 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Executive Secretary (Fire & Rescue
Department), Winchester
SALARY: $32,323-$51,729 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Aug. 23.
SALARY: $37,419-$59,883 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Accounting Manager, Vinton
Specialist III (Public Utilities Department),
Harrisonburg
Human Resources Generalist, Harrisonburg
SALARY: $36,628-$42,972 start range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled. SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
SALARY: $36,628-$42,972 start range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Deadline: Aug. 28. Clerk of Council, Williamsburg
Director of Human Resources,
Dinwiddie County
SALARY: $41,026 to start (+) benefits. Deadline: Sept. 13.
SALARY: $62,107-$99,288 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 2.
Director of Community Development,
Louisa County
Finance Manager, Montgomery County
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
SALARY: $53,487-$65,255 hiring range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Open until filled.
Management Analyst I, Norfolk
Director of Economic Development,
King George County
SALARY: $61,372-$100,036 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 30.
Assistant Chief Financial Officer,
Portsmouth
SALARY: $62,193-$83,961 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Management Analyst II (Police
Department), Albemarle County
SALARY: $40,005-$63,954 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Buyer I (Department of Finance),
Albemarle County
SALARY: $36,094-$43,313 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
Foster Care / Adoption Worker
(Temporary Position), Albemarle County
SALARY: $20.41-$24.49 per hr. DOQ/DOE. Open until filled.
Town Manager, Onancock
SALARY: $41,549-$49,859 for Management Analyst II; $36,094$43,313 Management Analyst I DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline: Sept. 6.
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Planner / Wetlands Projects Coordinator,
Mathews County
SALARY: $35,000-$45,000 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until
filled.
continues on next page
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE
AUGUS T 2 3 , 2 0 1 3
VML
N EWS NEWSLET T ER
Page 7
Job opportunities
Human Resources Director,
Winchester
SALARY: $70,553-$112,902 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Sept. 9.
Assistant City Attorney I, Danville
SALARY: $55,000 (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Budget & Management Analyst II (Budget
& Management Department), Chesterfield
County
SALARY: Negotiable DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Executive Director (Downtown Salisbury,
Inc.), Salisbury N.C.
SALARY: DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline Sept. 20.
Public Information Officer,
Roanoke County
SALARY: $50,000-$60,000 start range DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Deadline: Sept. 2.
Network/Database Administrator,
Fall Church
SALARY: $63,067-plus DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline: Sept. 1.
Civil Engineer II, Western Virginia Water
Authority (Roanoke)
SALARY: $56,063-$91,280 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Deadline:
Aug. 23.
VML eNews is published biweekly by the
Virginia Municipal League
Economic Development Director,
Greene County
P.O. Box 12164
Richmond, VA 23241
(804) 649-8471
Fax: (804) 343-3758
E-mail: [email protected]
www.vml.org
SALARY: $71,970 to start (+) benefits. Deadline: Aug. 27.
Director of Operations, Rivanna Water &
Sewer Authority
SALARY: Negotiable DOQ/DOE (+) benefits. Open until filled.
Director of Finance, Richmond
SALARY: Negotiable up to $153,875 DOQ/DOE (+) benefits.
Open until filled.
Executive Director
R. Michael Amyx
Editor
David Parsons
Associate Editor
Manuel Timbreza
L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t s W o r k i n g T o g e t h e r S i n c e 1905
< BAC K TO C OVER PAGE