Key takeaways
- Virginia state government spent $84.0 billion in fiscal 2024, the 11th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of General Services, Division of Purchases and Supply, and vendors register and find bids in eVA.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2027-28 budget proposal usually comes two-year budget enacted in 2026; amendments proposed in December.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn Feb. 27.
Virginia government at a glance
| Fact | Virginia |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $84.0 billion (11th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2027-28 · proposal usually two-year budget enacted in 2026; amendments proposed in December |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 13 to Feb. 27 (46 days) |
| Central procurement office | Department of General Services, Division of Purchases and Supply |
| Bid and vendor portal | eVA |
| State CIO | Michael Watson, Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth |
| Local governments | 522 total, including 198 special districts and 1 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 16 public power utilities and 13 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 27,442 (end of 2023) |
How Virginia buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of General Services, Division of Purchases and Supply handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. eVA is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Virginia vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | Up to $10,000 (single quote) |
| Informal quotes | $10,000 to $100,000: quick quotes or unsealed bids on eVA |
| Formal solicitation | Over $100,000 (IFB or RFP) |
Source: Va. Code §2.2-4303; DGS. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Virginia's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2027-28.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Two-year budget enacted in 2026; amendments proposed in December. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: two-year budget already enacted. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn Feb. 27. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Michael Watson, Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, leads the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 5 executive orders, no laws and 3 agency policies on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Virginia
The biggest Virginia entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | City | 453,737 residents (2025) | 43 of 100 largest cities |
| Chesapeake | City | 255,332 residents (2025) | 92 of 100 largest cities |
| Richmond | City | 237,257 residents (2025) | 96 of 100 largest cities |
| Fairfax County | County | 1,167,873 residents (2025) | 42 of 100 largest counties |
| Fairfax County | School district | 178,479 students (fall 2021) | 12 of 100 largest districts |
| Prince William County | School district | 90,070 students (fall 2021) | 33 of 100 largest districts |
| Loudoun County | School district | 81,131 students (fall 2021) | 40 of 100 largest districts |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) | Community college | 56,457 students | 8 of 18 largest |
| Washington Dulles International | Airport | 13,859,569 passengers boarded (2025) | 22 of 100 busiest |
| Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl | Airport | 12,003,594 passengers boarded (2025) | 28 of 100 busiest |
| Fairfax Water | Water utility | 1,121,613 people served | 19 of 208 largest |
| Virginia Beach Public Utilities | Water utility | 437,994 people served | 75 of 208 largest |
| Fairfax County (VA) Police | Police department | 1,369 sworn officers (2016) | 33 of 50 largest |
| Loudon County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff's office | 536 sworn personnel (2016) | 26 of 50 largest |
| Port of Virginia | Port | Nearly 3.24 million Calendar 2025 TEUs (2025) | 6 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 522 local governments. That includes 198 special districts and 1 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 16 public power utilities and 13 electric cooperatives serve 872,132 customers, 21% of the state. See Virginia utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Virginia buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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