TJPDC legislative update: Charlottesville gains ability to increase Council salaries 

There are five days until the General Assembly returns to Richmond for a special session to finish up legislative work in 2024. The Commissioners of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District got an update last Thursday.

When the General Assembly session ended in early March, the House and the Senate had adopted a budget. Before the veto session on April 17, Governor Glenn Youngkin had made several amendments to the revenue and spending plan but the legislature did not complete their work. 

“The Governor and the General Assembly decided to take a step back,” said David Blount, the TJPDC’s legislative liaison. “They are supposedly talking now trying to come up with some agreements on a budget for the next two years, next two fiscal years.”

Blount said both sides will have to first agree to the total amount of revenues with disagreement continuing on the levying of a digital services tax. Then he said work can begin on finalizing appropriations. 

One looming question in the budget is whether additional funding to help fight harmful algae blooms at Lake Anna as well as a capital request from Greene County related to the creation of  a new reservoir at White Run. 

Meanwhile, several bills have been adopted by both Chambers and signed into law by Governor Youngkin.

“The City of Charlottesville had a successful legislative initiative to increase the [salary] caps for City Council members, something that hadn’t been done in twenty-some years,” Blount said.

Under the new legislation, Charlottesville’s Mayor can earn up to $37,000 a year and Councilors can get up to $34,000 a year. 

However, Blount said legislation failed that would have allowed localities to hold referendums on a one-cent increase in the sales tax to pay for school construction. Youngkin vetoed the bills and Blount expected them to come back against next year.  

Several bills were floated this year to put limits on the ability of localities to place restrictions on utility-scale solar installation. All were passed by in 2024 pending further study and Blount said it’s too early to tell what will happen next.

“I think you’re going to have advocates on both sides of the issue and if there’s going to be some compromise, it doesn’t come until late this year heading into the next session,” Blount said. “If there’s no compromise then you go and do battle again.” 

Both Louisa County and Fluvanna County are among the localities that want local control over solar fields. 

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