VIRGINIA as a township government for census purposes. As of October 2007, there were no Virginia ranks 44th among the states in township governments in Virginia. number of local governments, with 511 as of October 2007. Under Virginia law, tier-cities are incorporated communities within a consolidated county with COUNTY GOVERNMENTS (95) a population of 5,000 or more that have been designated as tier-cities by the general The entire area of the state is encompassed by assembly. These governments have both the county government except for areas located powers of a town and such additional powers within the boundaries of the cities. Cities in as may be granted by the general assembly. Virginia exist outside the area of any county As of October 2007, there were no tier-city and are counted as municipal rather than governments in Virginia. county governments. The county governing body may be called the county board of Township Governments (0) supervisors, county board, or urban county board of supervisors. Virginia has no township governments as defined for census purposes. The "townships" SUBCOUNTY GENERAL PURPOSE in Virginia are described above under GOVERNMENTS (229) "Municipal Governments." Municipal Governments (229) PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS (135) Municipal governments in Virginia are the city School District Governments (1) governments and town governments, which are classified generally by population size as The Eastern Virginia Medical College, formerly follows: the Medical College of Hampton Roads and, earlier, the Eastern Virginia Medical Authority, Cities: 5,000 inhabitants or more is the only school district government in Virginia. This college was established by Towns: 1,000 inhabitants or more special act. A board of 17 trustees governs the college, including six members appointed by The cities, referred to in the Virginia the Eastern Virginia Medical College constitution as "independent incorporated Foundation; one each appointed by the cities communities," differ from towns because they of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, lie outside the boundaries of any county. Portsmouth, and Suffolk; two appointed by the These cities perform traditional county City of Virginia Beach; and four appointed by functions as well as traditional municipal the City of Norfolk. The authority may fix and functions.1 collect fees and rents and issue revenue bonds. Townships may be created under a specific circumstance. When a county consolidates Dependent Public School Systems (134) with another city or county or combination thereof into a consolidated city, towns in the Virginia statutes provide for the following types county that do not sign the consolidation of dependent public school systems: agreement may continue in existence as separate townships within the consolidated Systems dependent on county governments city. These governments would continue to (95): have the same officers as towns and would be counted as a municipal government rather than County school systems 1 Systems dependent on municipal governments be appointed by the county governing body. (39): Also, upon voter approval, city or county school boards may be elected. In public school City school systems systems serving less than one county or city or Town school systems part or all of more than one county or city, the school board members are appointed by the County, city, and town public school systems in governing body of the counties or cities they Virginia are classified as dependent agencies represent. The number of school board of county or municipal governments and are members is determined by the governing body not counted as separate school district of the county or city if the school division governments. County or municipal public consists of less than one county or city or by school systems receive county or municipal agreement of the governing bodies of the appropriations and state and federal funds. counties and cities in a school division The county and municipal governing bodies set consisting of part or all of more than one the budgets for their public school systems. county or city. Generally, each county and city in Virginia Virginia law also recognizes separate town constitutes a "school division" for the operation school districts that existed on July 1, 1978, of public schools. Each school division is except that, if the town converts to an counted as a separate dependent public independent city, the town will also become a school system in census statistics. The state school division. Town school districts are board of education may divide or consolidate classified for census reporting as dependent school divisions upon consent of the school agencies of the town governments because boards and the governing bodies of the the town council appoints members of the counties and the municipalities affected and school board and provides for the system fiscal with the consent of the general assembly. requirements. In addition, two or more school boards may establish joint or regional schools with the Each county and some city school divisions consent of the state board of education. are divided into "districts" from which members of the respective school boards are appointed. The public schools in the cities of Bedford and These districts exist only for representational Fairfax are operated under contract by the purposes. boards of education of Bedford and Fairfax counties, respectively. The public schools in Other Educational Activities James City County and the City of Williamsburg are jointly operated, as are the School boards may enter into agreements with public schools in Greensville County and the other school boards to provide special and City of Emporia and in Alleghany County and vocational education services or programs the City of Clifton Forge. Rockbridge County under contract or to operate joint programs or and the City of Lexington jointly operate one schools. These programs are not counted as high school; the rest of the schools in those separate governments. In cases where two or two divisions are operated by their respective more school boards provide these programs school boards. jointly, these programs or schools are classified as joint educational service agencies Generally, city school boards are appointed by of the participating county, city, or town school the city council. County school boards are systems. usually appointed by the school board selection commission which, in turn, is Academic year governors schools are created appointed by the circuit court. Upon voter by an agreement between two or more local approval, however, a county school board may school systems to provide gifted and talented 2 programs. They are governed by a board Airport authorities serving a single county or appointed by the participating local school city and lacking fiscal or administrative systems. These schools are classified as joint autonomy are not counted as separate educational service agencies of the governments. See "Subordinate Agencies and participating county, city, or town school Areas," below. systems. Area Agencies on Aging Created as Joint SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS (186) Exercise of Powers Virginia statutes authorize the creation of a These agencies provide services to the aging. variety of special districts or authorities that are They are created by local governments counted as governments. These are through joint exercise of powers agreements. discussed in detail below. The agencies may receive funds from the state, federal, and local governments and may Airport Authorities and Commissions accept private contributions. (special acts and interlocal agreements) Breaks Interstate Park Commission Airport authorities and commissions may be established by special act. Those established This commission was created by an interstate jointly by two or more local governments are compact between Virginia and Kentucky to counted for census reporting as governments. develop and operate Breaks Interstate Park. A board appointed by the participating local The commission consists of the director of the governments governs each of the airport Virginia department of conservation and authorities, except the Blue Ridge Airport recreation, the commissioner of the Kentucky Authority’s board is appointed by the circuit department of parks, both ex officio, and three judge. These authorities may fix and collect commissioners from each state, appointed by fees and all except the Cumberlands Airport the respective governors. The commission Commission and the Mecklenburg-Brunswick may charge fees and entrance charges and Airport Commission may issue revenue bonds. may issue revenue bonds. In addition, two or more counties, cities, or Buchanan County Tourist Train towns may form a joint airport authority, board, Development Authority or commission by interlocal agreement under general law. The composition of the governing This authority was created to develop a tourist body of such an entity is specified in the train and theme park in cooperation with any agreement. Powers of airport authorities, interested private or governmental entities in boards, and commissions created under the state or the states of West Virginia, general law are similar to those of airport Kentucky, Tennessee, or North Carolina. The authorities created under special acts. board is appointed by the governing body of Buchanan County and includes two members Airport authorities created jointly by several of the county governing body, nineteen citizen local governments prior to July