Halifax-Northampton reentry council asks Northampton County to serve as fiscal agent for state grant

Dr. Orton Perry, chairman of the Halifax-Northampton Local Reentry Council, told the Northampton County Board of Commissioners that the council is seeking Northampton County to serve as its intermediate agency and fiscal agent for a reentry grant that the council expects to be roughly a quarter of a million dollars a year, with about 14% of the award available to the fiscal agent for administrative costs.

"We're coming to the end of our fiscal year, and we are going to be asked to be reawarded," Dr. Perry said, and he asked the county to "consider being our IA, intermediate agency. You will handle all the fiscal duties. You will receive a 14%—about $33,000—of the quarter of a million dollar grant." He told the board the program seeks reimbursement for outlays and that reimbursement typically arrives about 30 days after expenses are submitted.

The council described recent program outcomes to the board as evidence of impact. Dr. Perry said the reentry effort has referred about 150 people and served more than 80, reporting a 99% employment rate for those being served. He also said the council's work had reduced incarceration costs, asserting the program saved both counties about $210,000 over roughly five months: $31,200 for Northampton County and approximately $179,000 for Halifax County.

Why it matters: the Local Reentry Council (LRC) model routes state grant funding through a designated county or other entity that acts as the fiscal agent, handling payroll, invoicing and compliance. If commissioners agree to serve as fiscal agent, Northampton County would temporarily advance funds for payroll and expenses and file for reimbursement under the grant rules.

Board members and staff asked clarifying questions about timing, fiduciary controls and program oversight. County staff said the county would set up a separate program fund and org number to segregate revenues and expenditures; the county manager said reimbursements typically arrive about 30 days after claims are submitted. Dr. Perry said the LRC would handle programmatic hiring and day-to-day operations while the county would act as the fiscal conduit. He identified an existing program office at 339 Roanoke Avenue and said the LRC already operates a coed boarding house and is pursuing an additional boarding-house site serving both counties.

Commissioners requested to review the grant language, the memorandum of understanding and the RFP language before committing. Multiple commissioners said they would like the board to consider a special (call) meeting to vote before the end of the grant period; Dr. Perry and county staff said the grant year ends Aug. 31 and that the council plans to submit an RFP for reaward. Staff agreed to send the draft grant and related documents to the manager and commissioners for review; the board indicated it would consider a call meeting once materials were available.

Dr. Perry also told the board of an upcoming visit by representatives of the T.D. Jakes Foundation and the OWN network, scheduled for Sept. 3, and said the foundation is proposing a larger initiative (the presentation called it a "$15,000,000 SOP") that could bring additional attention and resources to reentry work in the region.

The board did not vote on the request at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to supply the grant language, a draft MOU and a proposed RFP. Several commissioners said they would want any final approval to be contingent on review of those documents and confirmation of reporting and compliance safeguards.

Ending note: county staff recommended that if the board moves forward it require review of the grant and the MOU, and to include contractual language that protects the county by delineating allowable expenditures and reimbursement procedures.