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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85286</law_id><section_number>15.2-3541</section_number><catch_line>General effect of consolidation; officers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-3542</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="35">Consolidation of Localities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Consolidation of Certain Counties, Cities and Towns</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the effective date of <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span>, the localities so consolidated, other than the consolidated <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span>, and other than townships as provided by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Effect on town charter" href="/15.2-3548/">15.2-3548</a>, shall terminate, as shall the terms of office and the rights, powers, duties and compensation of the officers, agents and employees of each such <span class="dictionary">county</span>, <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span>. When such agreement provides for <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span> of the area into a <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span>, or when such agreement provides for <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span> of the area into a <span class="dictionary">county</span> in which a tier-<span class="dictionary">city</span> will exist, then the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or <span class="dictionary">judges</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> within the area comprised by the consolidated <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> an election to be held not less than thirty nor more than 185 days after the date upon which the <span class="dictionary">referendum</span> provided for in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Order for election" href="/15.2-3538/">15.2-3538</a>, <a class="law" title="Conduct of election" href="/15.2-3539/">15.2-3539</a> and <a class="law" title="Result of elections; determination of form of government" href="/15.2-3540/">15.2-3540</a> was held, but at least thirty days before the effective date of such <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span> agreement, at which election officers for the new consolidated <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span>, or for the new consolidated <span class="dictionary">county</span> and tier-<span class="dictionary">city</span> shall be elected.
		The officers so elected shall take office upon the effective date of <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span> and shall serve until their successors have been elected, qualified and taken office. Their successors shall be elected at the next regular election time for such officers as provided for by general <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
		No election required by this section or by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Order for election" href="/15.2-3538/">15.2-3538</a> shall be held on the day of a primary election nor within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election. Should the final day by which either such election must be held fall within the sixty days prior to a general election, the required election must be held on the same day as the general election. Should such final day fall within the sixty days prior to a primary election, the required election must be held not less than thirty nor more than forty-five days after the primary election.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-227; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-1141; 1979, c. 85; 1984, c. 695; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
