On the agenda: Chesterfield Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee — data center (Oct 22)

Total Students Served Through CSA
2017-2025

Average Cost Per Chesterfield Student
2017-2025

2027 Dra ft Le gis la tive Progra m
Board of Supervisors Work Session
September 23, 2026

2027 Le gis la tive Ba c kdrop
• Heading into 2027 election year…
• 40 Senators: 21 D, 19 R
• 100 Delegates: 64 D, 36 R
• Short-session year (45 days)
• Second year of Biennium Budget, focus on budget
amendments
• 440+ bills continued from last session (11/16 deadline
to act)
• Bill Limits: 20 max in Senate, no defined limit in House
• Expect to see recurring themes: housing, public safety,
FOIA, transportation, technology, AI, data centers,
elections, procurement and collective bargaining

Che s te rfie ld’s Guiding
Princ iple s
• Provide quality education and
public safety
• Promote quality of life to enrich our
community
• Preserve local autonomy
• Support Blueprint Chesterfield’s
strategic framework

DRAFT
2027 Le gis la tive Prioritie s
• K-12 e duca tion
• Continue to advance JLARC recommendations, to include state overhaul of
funding methodology

• Public Sa fe t y
• Support innovative strategies to enhance community/public safety and
security
• Support options to enhance jail operations
• Support expanded state hospital-bed capacity for individuals in crisis
• Support fully funding ‘599’ state aid to localities with police departments

• Loca l Authorit y
• Support strategies to preserve and strengthen local decision-making
authority, maintain community voice
• Oppose elimination, limitation, or cap on ability to maintain local revenues;
including excess clerk fees redirected to state through the budget
• Support option to offer enhanced VRS benefits to other critical public safety
workers (911 dispatchers, juvenile detention officers, animal service officers)

DRAFT
2027 Le gis la tive Prioritie s
• Infra s truc ture
• Support funding for secondary road maintenance on VDOT maintained rights-ofway
• Support funding for the Fall Line Trail, southern section priority
• Support to prioritize project and funding for the Powhite Parkway Extension;
95/Willis Interchange; 295/Meadowville Bridge
• Support alternative options to address infrastructure funding for schools, roads,
and other public facilities

• Sta te -Re s pons ible Se rvic e s & Loca l Cos t Shifts (Unfunde d Ma nda te s )
• Support market-based salaries for all state employees working in Chesterfield
County; including Juvenile & Domestic District Court Clerks, General District
Court Clerks, and Public Defenders’ Office
• Support a comprehensive analysis to modernize staffing standards and state
share of market-based salaries across all Constitutional Offices for their county
employees
• Support alternative funding and policy strategies to address high-need children in
CSA programs
• Support funding for state-mandated veterans tax relief program
• Oppose unfunded state mandates

DRAFT
2027 Le gis la tive Prioritie s

• La nd Us e a nd Environm e nt

• Support local option land use and zoning authority; including state funding and
resources to bolster local housing options and enhanced local zoning authority for
analyzing and determining land use requests
• Support enhanced state oversight and accountability for landfills
• Support expanded local authority to preserve and protect water and wastewater
facilities and resources

• Ec onom ic De ve lopm e nt a nd Touris m
• Support business site readiness initiatives, including infrastructure funding and
streamlining application and permitting processes, to promote major economic
development opportunities
• Support programs and funding for business growth, new business development, and
continued business investment
• Support programs and funding that invest and promote tourism in the county

• Te c hnology
• Support policy and funding to advance cyber security protections and risk mitigation
measures across the Commonwealth, including state-level oversight where appropriate

• He a lth a nd Hum a n Se rvic e s
• Support additional funding and programmatic resources for addressing health, wellbeing and recovery services; to include mental health/behavioral health system
resources and breakthrough therapies for veterans

Fe de ra l Gra nts Upda te
• $68.5 million ARPA program wrapping up
• Deadline to expend obligated funds is December 31, 2026
• Less than $500,000 balance as of July 31 report
• Awarded up to $2.3 million for Curtis Street and West Street
Crossing Improvements
• Project development grant; does not include construction
• Successful through FY2024-2026 Federal-State Partnership
for Intercity Passenger Rail Program; applied to three
programs total
• BUILD Grant: Powhite Parkway
• Application unsuccessful; scored as “Recommended”
• Safe Streets for All: Bike-Ped Safety and Intersection Lighting
• Application pending

Vis it: lis .virginia .gov

Calendar
Ma y – Aug Stakeholder Meetings, Collecting Information
7/ 20 Prefiling Began for 2027 Session
July – Aug Meeting with State Legislative Delegation
9/ 23 Board of Supervisors Work Session for Draft Legislative Program
10/ 28 Board of Supervisors to Adopt Legislative Program
Oc t – Nov VML, VACo Adopt Legislative Programs; Money Committee Retreats, Governor’s
Conferences; Legislative Bill and Budget Request Prep
11/ 3 Election Day (US Senator, US House of Representatives, Constitutional Amendments,
Local Referendum)
11/ 16 Last day for General Assembly Committee Action on Continued Legislation
11/ 30 Prefiling Deadline to DLS by 5 p.m.
12/ 1 Joint Legislative Breakfast (County & Schools)
12/ 17 Governor’s Proposed Budget Released
1/ 13/ 27 2027 General Assembly Session Convenes (short, 45-day)
2/ 26/ 27 Expected Adjourn Sine Die
La te Ma rc h 2027 Reconvene/Veto session

2027 Dra ft Le gis la tive Progra m
Board of Supervisors Work Session
September 23, 2026