PEOPLE. INFORMATION. STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
Understand your government. Shape your community.
Clear information about Virginia’s state and local governments, their budgets, and how you can take part in decisions that affect your life.
How government works, why budgets matter, and how you can make a difference
Take the online Citizen Academy and build your understanding of public finance and civic participation
See where the money comes from and where it goes – federal, state, and local
Fact sheets, policy insights, research reports, and practical guides
Every day, Virginia’s state and local governments make decisions that shape our communities—from the quality of our schools and roads to public safety, housing, and the services we rely on. Yet most residents have limited access to clear, meaningful information about what their governments do, how public money is spent, and what results are achieved.
Democracy requires more than elections. It requires informed citizens who can understand public choices, weigh competing priorities, and participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives.
The Virginia Civic Observatory is a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to making state and local government information more accessible, understandable, and useful. Through civic education, citizen-friendly budget information, interactive data, and practical resources, we aim to strengthen public understanding, encourage constructive civic engagement, and support more responsive, evidence-informed governance.
Our goal is simple: to help Virginians better understand their government—and have a stronger voice in shaping their communities.
Stronger government.
Stronger communities.
When people have clear, reliable information about their government, they can take part in decisions, hold leaders accountable, and build a stronger Virginia