CHAPTER 694

An Act to amend and reenact 8§ 15.1-1180 and 15.1-1131, as amended, of
the Code of Virginia, and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a
section numbered 15.1-1181.1, the amended and new sections relating
to consolidation of certain counties, cities and towns and services of
the Department of Highways in certain cases of consolidation or

merger.
[H 1004]
Approved April 5, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 15.1-1180 and 15.1-1131, as amended, of the Code of Virginia
be amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia be amended by
adding a section numbered 15.1-1131.1, as follows:

§ 15.1-11380. Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative con-
solidations.—By complying with the requirements and procedure herein-
after specified in this article, any one or more adjoining or adjacent coun-
ties or any one or more adjoining or adjacent cities or towns, or any of
such counties, cities or towns where such counties, cities or towns, as the
case may be, adjoin or are adjacent to each other or any county and all
incorporated towns located entirely therein may consolidate into a
single county or city, or into a single city and one or more counties, and
the remaining portions of such counties not so consolidated with such city
may be consolidated with each other or with adjoining or adjacent counties
into one or more counties, or any such counties and cities may be consoli-
dated into a single county or more than one county.

§ 15.1-1131. Consolidation agreement generally; advisory commit-
tee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court.—The board of
supervisors or council or other governing body of such county, city or
town desiring to consolidate with another city into a single city or into
a single city and one or more counties or into a single county, or any county
or all incorporated towns located entirely therein desiring to consolidate
into a single county or single city may enter into a joint agreement for
such consolidation, setting forth in such consolidation agreement the
following:

(1) The names of the several counties, cities and towns which it is
proposed to consolidate;

The name of the city and/or county or counties into which it is
proposed to consolidate; or shall provide for a subsequent referendum to
be voted on by the people of the consolidated city or county prior to the
effective date of the consolidation to select the name for said consolidated
city or county; provided, however, the name chosen shall not otherwise be
one that has been restricted or prohibited by law;

(3) The property, real or personal, belonging to each such county, city
or town, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States;

(4) The indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each such county,
city or town;

(5) The day upon which the consolidation agreement shall become
effective; and

(6) Any other provisions which may be properly embodied in such
agreement.

Each such governing body may appoint an advisory committee com-
posed of three persons to assist it in the preparation of such agreement,
and may pay the members of such advisory committee reasonable com-
pensation, approved as to a county by the judge of the circuit court there-
of, as to a town by the judge of the circuit court of the county in which
such town is situated, and as to a city by the judge of the corporation court
thereof, or circuit court if there is no corporation court.

The original of the consolidation agreement, together with a petition
on behalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman and the
clerk of each of such bodies, asking that a referendum on the question
of consolidation of the counties, cities and towns, shall be filed with the
judge of the corporation court of the city with which such other cities,
counties and towns propose to consolidate. A copy of the agreement shall
be filed with the judge of each circuit court and the judge of each of the
corporation courts having jurisdiction in the counties, cities and towns
parties to the agreement.

Where a regional planning commission has been established in ac-
cordance with the provisions of §§ 15.1-1271 to 15.1-1280 and such com-
mission develops a plan for consolidation of the area or a portion thereof
into a single city or a single city.and one or more counties, or a single
county, then such plan may be used as the basis for such a consolidation
agreement as is contemplated in this article.

§ 15.1-1131.1. Hereafter when a county and city merge into a city,
or a combination of counties and a city or cities merge into a city, or when
any county and all of the incorporated towns located entirely therein
merge into a city, the governing body of such city may request of the
Commissioner of the Department of Highways and upon such request, he
shall grant the full services of the Department of Highways in those areas
which were formerly a county or counties for a period not to exceed ten
years from the effective date of such merger in the same manner and to
the same extent such services were rendered prior to merger. Funds for
the maintenance, construction and reconstruction of streets within the
areas formerly a county or counties shall continue to be allocated as if
such areas were still in the county or counties and such city shall not
receive funds for maintenance, construction or reconstruction of streets
in those areas during the period the Highway Department furnishes such
services. In those areas where the Department of Highways is requested
to provide the above services the governing body of such city shall have
control over the streets and highways to the same extent as was formerly
vested in the governing body of the county or counties.