Douglas N. Page

This Executive Progress Report for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services details the agency's efforts to achieve its overarching goal of making Virginia the most veteran-friendly state. It outlines long-range goals focused on providing comprehensive support, including timely benefits assistance, long-term care, community-based services for stress and TBI, state veterans cemeteries, and educational opportunities. The report also addresses specific FY2015 objectives related to funding, staffing, and legislative initiatives, while highlighting challenges in workforce development, IT, and physical plant maintenance.

The strategic plan for the Department of Corrections aims to enhance public safety by providing effective programming and supervising sentenced offenders in a humane, cost-efficient manner. The plan outlines five key goals: improving public, employee, and inmate safety; enhancing employees' and organizational effectiveness; improving financial performance; strengthening communications; and fostering a culture of preparedness. Strategic priorities include attracting and retaining employees, ensuring security and staff safety, improving technology, providing effective offender management and programming, enhancing communications, and optimizing resource allocation. The overarching vision is to be a model correctional agency and an innovative leader, contributing to a safer Virginia.

The strategic plan for the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center outlines its direction to strengthen the regional economy and prepare citizens for 21st-century jobs. It focuses on elevating educational preparedness and degree attainment through comprehensive academic programs aligned with workforce needs, serving as a catalyst for economic development, leading in clean energy research and company establishment, and being a model for collaborative off-campus higher education and conference services. The plan aims to enhance workforce skills, promote regional economic growth, and establish the center as a recognized leader in its field.

The briefing covers the Fiscal Year 2017 general fund revenue, recent national and state economic indicators, and Fiscal Year 2018 year-to-date revenue collections through November. It also discusses the Fall 2017 Consensus Forecasting Process, the GACRE members concurring with the JABE recommended forecast, and the December Revenue Forecast. Additionally, it touches on the effects of possible federal tax reform, the FY18 GACRE Revenue Forecast, a mandatory deposit to the Revenue Stabilization Fund in FY2017, and next steps in the revenue forecasting process.

The briefing included a review of FY 2008, covering general fund revenues, economic performance, and factors contributing to economic trends. It assessed the U.S. and Virginia economic outlooks, incorporating insights from expert meetings and advisory groups. The briefing also presented revised revenue forecasts for December, reflecting economic conditions and proposed tax policy changes, and outlined plans to address budget shortfalls, including proposed actions and revenue adjustments.