Victoria has adopted a proclamation recognizing the deeds and services of local governments during the first week of April.

The proclamation recognizing local government education week was adopted during the council’s Tuesday, March 8, meeting.

“Since the colonial period, the commonwealth of Virginia has closely held the institutions of local government, and local governments throughout the commonwealth provide valuable services to the citizens of the communities they serve,” the proclamation notes. “Citizen services, such as law enforcement, public health and safety, recreational opportunities and educating local children, are most often delivered at the local level.”

On Feb. 29, 2012, the Virginia General Assembly designated the first week of April as Local Government Education Week in recognition of the work performed by local governments.

The first week of April is appropriate for the designation because it was April 2, 1908 that the council-manager form of government was created in the city of Staunton, the proclamation notes.

Government students at Central High School appear as the mayor and council of Victoria, it notes. The proclamation also calls for town council and the Lunenburg County Public Schools to “partner to promote civic education and engagement in an effort to educate citizens about their local government, strengthen the sense of community, and engage the next generation of local government managers.”

Mayor Carol Watson noted that “(a) lot of these things we are already doing.”