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Structurestudyguide

Virginia local governments are structured with counties, towns, and independent cities. Counties were originally established in 1634 as shires by King Charles I, and towns are considered parts of counties whose residents pay county taxes and vote in county elections. Virginia follows the Dillon Rule, meaning localities can only exercise powers specifically granted by the state. There is a distinction between towns, which are part of counties, cities, which are independent of counties, and counties. Cities and towns operate under charters from the Virginia General Assembly and generally follow the council-manager form of government, where an elected council appoints a professional city manager as the administrative head.

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84 views2 pages

Structurestudyguide

Virginia local governments are structured with counties, towns, and independent cities. Counties were originally established in 1634 as shires by King Charles I, and towns are considered parts of counties whose residents pay county taxes and vote in county elections. Virginia follows the Dillon Rule, meaning localities can only exercise powers specifically granted by the state. There is a distinction between towns, which are part of counties, cities, which are independent of counties, and counties. Cities and towns operate under charters from the Virginia General Assembly and generally follow the council-manager form of government, where an elected council appoints a professional city manager as the administrative head.

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Basic Local Government Structures

Local Government Education Week

The Early Stages

Charles I of England.

became counties.

1634 - A new system of government was proposed in the Virginia colonies by King
System includes eight shires created by the House of Burgesses. These shires later

The Dillon Rule

Virginia is a Dillon Rule state.

The Dillon Rule was established in the late 19th Century by a judge from Iowa.

This rule established that localities were tenants at will of the state government.

Under the Dillon Rule, Virginia local governments can only exercise specific powers
granted to it by the state as set forth in the Code of Virginia.

Distinction Between Towns, Cities, and Counties

Until 1887, there was no distinction between towns and counties. In 1902, the Virginia
Constitution made the distinction.

Current system of government divides local governments into counties, towns, and
independent cities.

Towns are considered parts of counties and town residents also pay county taxes and
vote in county elections.

In Virginia: there are 95 counties, 177 towns and 39 independent cities.

With the exception of Baltimore, MD, St. Louis, MO, and Carson City, NV, Virginia is the
only state that has independent cities. .

Cities are not part of counties, therefore city residents do not pay county taxes, they do
not vote in county elections,and they are not subject to county laws and ordinances.

Because of the loss of tax revenue to counties when towns receive independent city
designation or when cities annex county property, in 1987 the Virginia General Assembly placed a moratorium on
the expansion of independent city territories. This moratorium remains in effect to this day.

Cities, counties, and towns can consolidate into one town, city, or county at the request of
city or county residences or the request of the city or county government.

The consolidation of governments must be approved by public referendum of citizens


living in those affected local governments.

Cities and Towns

Cities and towns operate under charters, which are given by the Virginia General

Assembly.

All cities, and many towns, operate under the council-manager form of government ( with
the exception of Richmond where the mayor has both political and administrative power).

The first city manager in Virginia was Charles E. Ashburner. He was the City Manager of
Staunton and was hired in 1908.

Ashburner was also the first professional hired to serve as a local government manager in
the United States.

Today the council-manager form of governance established in Staunton in 1908 is the


accepted approach to local government management in towns, cities and counties throughout the U.S.A.

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