GA bills diluting local powers move forward

It's Feb. 20. Local delegates vote for bills limiting local powers on zoning, employee unions. James City police seek man in county shooting. James City board chair pushes "Re-Tree JCC".

Virginia State Capitol photo

Local elected officials are worriedly watching as the General Assembly moves forward with several bills that would dilute local decision making on zoning and employee unions.

Local delegates Jessica Anderson D-71, and Mark Downey, D-69, voted in favor of both bills.

Tuesday night was the deadline for legislation to move from one house of the legislature to the other for further consideration, or be tabled.

One bill that is still moving forward is House Bill 1263 , which would repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees at the local and state level. It dilutes the power of local governments by establishing a state board that would oversee union elections at the local level.

James City County Vice Chair Ruth Larson has estimated that the most extreme scenario, in which all county and school employees unionized, could raise labor costs by up to 20 percent, equivalent to 24 cents in higher property tax rates.

A bill diluting local zoning con…