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2007 SESSION

076106204
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 654
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 9, 2007
Requesting the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the form of government in Fairfax County. Report.
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Patron-- Albo
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3 of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia, Fairfax County has adopted the urban county executive form of government provided for in Chapter 8 of Title 15.2; and

WHEREAS, the Code of Virginia mandates that the board of supervisors of any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government appoint an urban county executive who shall be (i) the administrative head of the county and (ii) responsible to the board of supervisors for the proper administration of all county affairs that such board has authority to control; and

WHEREAS, the Code of Virginia further prescribes that the "urban county executive shall not be appointed for a definite tenure, but may be removed at the pleasure of the board"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors be requested to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the form of government in Fairfax County. The Board of Supervisors shall include in its deliberations the members of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia who currently represent House and Senate districts encompassing Fairfax County. Neither the members of the Board of Supervisors nor members of the House of Delegates and Senate who are included in the deliberations shall receive compensation or reimbursement for their participation in this study.  Any expenses incurred during the course of this study shall be provided by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

In conducting its study, the Board of Supervisors shall: (i) review the governmental efficiency of Fairfax County operating under the urban county executive form of government; (ii) consider the administrative and fiscal consequences to Fairfax County if the voters of such county were to elect, at large, a chief executive who possessed the same powers and duties that the urban executive possesses under Chapter 8 of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia, in lieu of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' appointing such urban county executive; (iii) consider the impact on the governmental efficiency of Fairfax County if the voters of such county were to elect, at large, a chief executive who possessed the power to veto ordinances, resolutions, and other legislation passed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and (iv) consider the administrative and fiscal consequences to Fairfax County if such elected chief executive and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors were to serve staggered terms of office.  Members of the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia who are participating in the study shall recommend any legislation that would be beneficial to the citizens of Fairfax County that would not significantly disrupt the normal administrative operations of Fairfax County.

Technical assistance shall be provided by the Commission on Local Government and the Virginia Association of Counties. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Board of Supervisors in conducting its study, upon request.

The Board of Supervisors shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.