Amherst County, Virginia

W. Lyle Carver is the Commonwealth's Attorney for Amherst County. He works closely with his Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Amber Drumheller, Assistant Commmonwealth's Attorneys R. Clint Carwile, Adam Stanley, and M. Duffy Valentine, and Victim/Witness Advocates Lauren Shelton and Judy Brooks.

The Commonwealth's Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all state and local criminal cases that occur in the jurisdiction of Amherst County. We prosecute cases ranging from traffic tickets to DUIs to drug and larceny offenses to violent crimes. In addition, the Commonwealth's Attorney is the legal advisor on all criminal matters to law enforcement agencies operating within the County.

Our office is managed by Jenny Hunter and Erica Hudson. Legal Administration is handled by attorney Spencer Drake, who is also our FOIA officer. 

The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney is an elected position created by the Constitution of Virginia.

Mission

The mission of Amherst County's government is to nurture a vibrant and healthy community through transparent and fiscally responsible leadership and quality public services.

Vision

Amherst County will be the community of choice for people to live, work, play, and learn. It will be known for its safety, neighborly atmosphere, connectedness, its business, education, recreational opportunities, and passion for its natural beauty.

Values

• The beauty of our natural environment
• Safe and secure community, respectful of the Constitution
• Neighborly atmosphere
• Business, educational & recreational opportunities
• Connectedness
• Transparent, responsive, and participatory government
• Fiscal responsibility
• Efficient & effective public services

Goals

• Broadband expansion
• Residential growth in designated areas
• Promote business growth & redevelopment
• Promote tourism
• Promote & protect County assets
• Achieve education excellence
• Recruit and retain high-quality staff
• Increase citizen engagement

Meeting Schedule

All meetings of the County Board of Supervisors are held in the County Administrators Building at Second and Washington Street unless otherwise noted. Meetings are regularly held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Board of Supervisors convenes at 3:00 p.m. at the first meeting of the month. The Board of Supervisors convenes at 7:00 p.m. at the second meeting of the month. 

Agendas and Minutes

Agendas for meetings are posted on the county's home page three business days before the meeting. To view agendas, click HERE.

Board Members

Tom Martin Supervisor - District 1 Phone: 434-946-1235 Email: tmartin@countyofamherst.com  Term ends December 31, 2027	Claudia D. Tucker Supervisor - District 2 Phone: 434-841-3716 Email: cdtucker@countyofamherst.com  Term ends December 31, 2025
Chris Adams Supervisor - District 3 Phone: Email: cradams@countyofamherst.com Term ends December 31, 2027	David Pugh, Jr.  Supervisor - District 4 Phone: 434-509-2038 Email: dwpugh@countyofamherst.com  Term ends December 31, 2027
Drew Wade Supervisor - District 5 Phone: 434-338-9626 Email: mdwade@countyofamherst.com Term ends December 31, 2025

Responsibilities

The Amherst County Department of Human Resources is responsible for the HR functions for all County employees. These functions include, but are not limited to:

• Administering and coordinating employee benefits
• Coordinating the employee recruitment and hiring process
• Developing and implementing employee training
• Handling employee relations issues, including employee complaints, EEOC issues, etc.

EOE Notice
The County of Amherst is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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County Employment

Employment Opportunities

County Application

For additional open positions advertised locally, please see the Job Postings tab below:

Responsibilities

The County Administrator's Office for Amherst has the responsibility of executing policies established by the Board of Supervisors or mandated by the state in addition to the following: 

• Serves as a link between the Board of Supervisors and the public and other boards and commissions on a daily basis and relays to them the policies and actions of the Board of Supervisors. 
• Advance the Board's strategic priorities, collaborating with internal and external customers.
• Present and monitor the annual report card of success indicators for the Strategic Plan.
• Executing the budget as finally adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
• Keeping the Board of Supervisors fully advised on the County's financial condition and future needs.
• Receiving reports from and giving directions to all heads of offices, departments, and boards of the locality under his control and supervision.
• Seeing that all ordinances, resolutions, directives, and orders of the governing body and all laws of the Commonwealth required to be enforced through the governing body are faithfully executed.

Jeremy Bryant, County Administrator

 Email : jsbryant@countyofamherst.com

Phone: 434-946-9400

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Important public notice from the Commissioner of the Revenue

The 2023 Personal Property Tax Relief discount amount will be 26.30% on qualifying vehicles. Qualifying vehicles are vehicles that are for Personal Use only. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Irby at 434-946-9310.

Welcome to the Commissioner of the Revenue's department. Listed below are the services this office offers the citizens of Amherst County.
 
The Commissioner of the Revenue is a locally elected Constitutional Officer responsible for administering all local taxes. The Commissioner is also the Chief FOIA officer for the office.  It is the duty and an honor for the Commissioner of the Revenue to serve the citizens of Amherst County. The Commissioner of the Revenue's office provides forms regarding: 

• Personal Property Tax
• Business Personal Property Tax
• Machinery & Tools Tax
• Business License Tax
• Food & Beverage Tax
• Lodging Tax
• Real Estate Tax Relief for the Elderly or Disabled
• Land Use Program
• Virginia Local Transient Occupancy Tax Return
• Forest Land Use Letter
• Forest Land Use Agreement

Information on various property and taxes are available below:

• Your Guide to Amherst County Taxes
• Personal Property Frequently Asked Questions
• How to obtain a Business License & Frequently Asked Questions

Other offices that provide valuable information are:

• Virginia Department of Taxation
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Internal Revenue Service
• 2-1-1 Get Connected - Get Answers

Clerk of the Circuit Court:

Deborah Mozingo

The circuit court is the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia. The circuit court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $15,000. It shares authority with the general district court to hear matters involving between $4,500 and $15,000. The circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies.
 
The circuit court also handles family matters, including divorce. In addition, the circuit court hears cases appealed from the general district court and from the juvenile and domestic relations district court.
 
There is a circuit court in each city and county in Virginia. The General Assembly elects circuit court judges for 8-year terms. 

Terms of Court and General Information

Terms begin - 2nd Tuesday of February, April, June, October, & December.
Grand Juries - 1st day of Term.
Cases set on Term Day - Cases also set between docket calls by agreement of court & counsel.
 
Court convenes at 9:30a.m.

Chancellors in Chancery are utilized.

Changes to  Real Estate Taxes is as follows:

• The Amherst County Board of Supervisors by County Ordinance No. 2021-0008, amended Section 14-26, of Article II, Real Property Tax, Chapter 14, Taxation, to the Code of the County of Amherst relating to the first installment of semi-annual taxes for real property.    The change is the DUE DATE for the first installment, which shall be paid on or before July 1 of each year, beginning with 2022.  The second installment date remains the same – to be paid on or before December 5^th of each year.    The Amherst County Board of Supervisors approved this change on September 21, 2021.

• Truist, formerly SunTrust and/or BB&T, will no longer be accepting real estate and/or personal property tax payments, effective immediately. 
  

   

The Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer for the locality, collecting taxes and local fees, and making payments on behalf of the local government.  The Treasurer is responsible for every form of revenue, be it local, state or federal, that comes to the locality.
 
The primary functions of a county treasurer can be grouped into three major categories:

• receipt and collection of revenue
• safekeeping of the revenue
• appropriate accounting for and disbursement of revenue

The Treasurer is one of five locally elected Constitutional Officers.  The elected post of Treasurer was created in the Virginia Constitution of 1870.  The Treasurer's independent status as an elected official ensures that local funds will be collected, invested, and spent by an officer who reports directly to the people.

Pursuant to VA Code 2.2-3704.2 The Freedom Of Information (FOIA) Officer For the Amherst County Treasurer’s Office is Joanne Adams Carden. jacarden@countyofamherst.com  or at 434-946-9318

Responsibilities 

The Office of Finance has many responsibilities including:

• Issues all payroll checks to persons employed by the County, Amherst County Service Authority, and the Amherst County Public School System.
• Perform an internal audit of invoices submitted by various departments for payment.
• Management support to the County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors. 
• Oversee the County's approved and adopted budget. 

Have a question regarding W-2s or 1099s? Call Finance; it's our responsibility to issue W-2s and 1099s for the County, Amherst County Service Authority, and Amherst County Public Schools.

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Responsibilities 

The Amherst County Purchasing Department manages procurement of goods and services for both the county government and Amherst County Public Schools. Its' goal is to obtain the maximum value for tax dollars spent. The "Purchasing Manual" outlines the policies and procedures used for performance of the county's procurement function.

Goals

The goal of Purchasing shall be designed to provide both goods and services at a reasonable price and maximum value possible for tax dollars spent; with adequate quality and in a timely manner to accomplish their purpose.

Regulations

Purchasing operates in accordance with all federal, state, and county regulations and laws pertaining to public procurement and strives to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the County’s procurement system.

Geographic Information System

Important inspection and permit information.

To schedule an inspection, please call Building Inspections by 5:00 p.m. the day BEFORE you would like an inspection.

A 48-hour notice is required for any inspection request about sprinkler systems.

Design Criteria (Please read before submitting applications and permits!)

All building permits and applications are on the County's Iworq system.

Building Permit Fee Schedule (Updated September 2022)

Cross Sections

Owner-Builder Statement

Residential Deck Construction

Asbestos Form

HVAC Form

Third-Party Inspection Policy

Energy Efficiency Certificate

14-Day Repair Request Complaint Letter

VA Building & Code Officials Association (Q&A)

Dept of Housing & Community Development

Licensing Q&A & Listing of State Licensed Contractors

Environmental Quality

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WHAT IS THE Children's SERVICES ACT FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND FAMILIES (CSA)?

In 1993 a Virginia Law provided for the pooling of eight specific funding streams to purchase services for high-risk youth. These funds are returned to the localities with a required state/ local match and are managed by local interagency teams. The act aims to provide high-quality, child-centered, family-focused, cost-effective, community-based services to high-risk youth and their families.

HOW DID IT GET STARTED?

In 1989, the General Assembly became concerned because the cost of residential treatment for high-risk youth increased by approximately 22% yearly. Because of this, a study of children in residential care was conducted. Fourteen thousand records from four different state agencies were examined. Subsequent analysis showed that services were provided to only 4,993 individual children.

In addition, 9 out of 10 of these children returned to their home communities where necessary changes in the child's community environment had not been made. The progress achieved in the residential facility was often lost.

At that point, it was decided that high-quality, less restrictive, community-based services would be provided to these children if the funds were managed locally. There is a local cash match required to access the state CSA funds.

WHICH FUNDING STREAMS WERE PLACED IN THE FUNDS POOL?

• Department of Social Services
• Department of Juvenile Justice
• Department of Education
• Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services
• Other
  
  

WHO MANAGES THE MONEY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

Each locality is required to have at least two different interagency teams. They are the Community Policy and Management Team and Family Assessment and Planning Team.

WHO PARTICIPATES ON THE LOCAL TEAMS?

The Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) is made up of at least one elected or appointed official or his designee and the agency heads or their designees from the local Department of Social Services, School System, Community Services Board (mental health), Court Services Unit (juvenile justice), local Health Department, a parent and, where appropriate, a private provider. This team has administrative and fiscal responsibility for the local fund's pool, developing local policies and procedures, and appointing members of the Family Assessment and Planning Team.

The Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) is comprised of the supervisory level staff from the same agencies as the CPMT as well as the parent and often a private provider. These teams work with the families to develop the Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP).

Suppose the services needed are beyond what is available in the participating agencies, and no other family or community resources are available. The team may purchase them with local CSA pool funds in that case.

WHICH CHILDREN MAY BE SERVED BY THE TEAMS?

In general, the children who would have been served by one of the funding streams placed in the pool are targeted for services through CSA. The children the education funds would have served and the foster care funds placed in the pool are considered "mandated" for assistance. This is because "sum sufficient" language is attached to them in the Federal law and/or the Code of Virginia. This special education and foster care children are the only populations state and local governments are required to appropriate sufficient funds to serve.

ARE THESE THE ONLY CHILDREN WHO MAY BE SERVED?

No! If funds are available, localities may choose to serve other children with emotional or behavioral problems, especially those with multi-agency involvement. Parents may be required to contribute financially toward the cost of CSA-funded services.

HOW DO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACCESS THE TEAMS?

Each locality develops its policies and procedures governing how families access the teams. Some localities allow parents to self-refer, some allow any local agency to bring a case, and many require that one of the agencies on the team be the point of contact for the family. To find the requirements in your locality, you may call any of the members of your CPMT. To contact the Amherst County CSA office, call (434) 946-9398. 

PURPOSE

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

• Agriculture & Natural Resources
• 4-H Youth
• Family & Consumer Sciences

Assistance in these areas of expertise is easy, you can:

• Participate in classes, meetings, and workshops
• Consult a staff member by office visit or telephone
• Request a home or farm visit by a staff member
• Receive newsletters on various topics
• Participate in 4-H and/or Family & Community Education Clubs

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective August 31, 2021 ACSA will resume disconnections for delinquent utility bills. Contact the ACSA office if you have any questions 434-845-1605.

Mission
The Amherst County Service Authority was originally established in the early 1930's, as the Madison Heights Sanitary District. Its function was to provide public water and wastewater services to the southernmost portion of Amherst County. In 1987 the District was reorganized as the Amherst County Service Authority, to supply these services to a broader portion of the County. Additionally, the Authority staff assist the County's Planning Department in reviewing proposed development activities in the County's protected public water supply watershed districts.

The Amherst County Department of Social Services provides social work services, financial services, and volunteer opportunities administered according to state and federal regulations.  The mission of the Department is to offer timely, appropriate, quality services to individuals and families to promote self-sufficiency and to protect children and adults.

The Department offers the following programs:  Adoption, Adult Protective Services, Adult Services, Auxiliary Grant Program, Child Protective Services, Day Care Services to Children, Emergency Assistance, Emergency Shelter Operations, Employment Services, Energy Assistance, Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS), Family Partnership Meetings, Foster Care, Home Based Care (Companion Services), Intake Services, Medicaid, Prevention and Support Services for Families, SNAP (food assistance), State/Local Hospitalization, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and Volunteer Services.

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).  The Amherst County Department of Social Services and USDA are an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Job openings for the Department of Social Services can be found HERE.

• include troubleshooting computer and network-related issues
  
• installation and setup of computer hardware and software