Legislators Tell Amherst That They “Have Their Back”

State legislators told Amherst supervisors last week that they would try to help the county government avoid unfunded mandates from the state government in the next session of the General Assembly. Unfunded mandates are requirements from the state that aren’t paid for with state money. Local governments say their budgets are strained by the requirement to give back money in what is called local aid to the commonwealth. The Virginia Association of Counties has asked for a repeal of local aid to the commonwealth, which is $50 million this year and $45 million in 2013-14.