Henry County supervisors approve $68M carryover, $354K 9-1-1 contract and other appropriations

Henry County’s Board of Supervisors on Nov. 25 approved a package of appropriations and a sole‑source contract for the county’s 9‑1‑1 center, and set aside a large carryover from the previous fiscal year.

The board voted unanimously, 6‑0, to: appropriate $5,400 for a part‑time circuit court clerical position; appropriate $54,100 from the general fund and award a $354,100 contract to Mobile Communications of America (MCA) to update 9‑1‑1 call‑handling equipment; accept and appropriate a combined $412,587 in loan and grant funds for the Villa Heights housing project (a $312,587 loan and $100,000 grant); and carry $68,043,828.31 in committed FY25 funds into FY26.

Why it matters: The 9‑1‑1 contract completes funding for a project already supported by a $300,000 Virginia Department of Emergency Management grant; county staff said the additional $54,100 covers remaining costs to install and integrate new call‑handling equipment. The Villa Heights award pairs loan proceeds that will be repaid from home sale proceeds with a grant aimed at reducing sales prices for eligible buyers. The carryover request represents encumbered projects and unspent grant funds being moved forward into the next fiscal year.

What officials said

County staff summarized the 9‑1‑1 request during the meeting, noting the total project cost and the remaining local share. "The $54,100 being requested is to cover the amount needed to complete the project in addition to the amount awarded through the grant," staff said at the meeting.

Supervisor Bryant, who represents the district with the Villa Heights project, made the motion to accept the loan and grant and to authorize the county administrator to execute related documents.

Votes at a glance

- Appropriation: $5,400 for circuit court clerical position — Approved 6‑0. - Appropriation & contract: $54,100 appropriation; $354,100 contract to Mobile Communications of America for 9‑1‑1 call‑handling equipment — Approved 6‑0. Staff indicated MCA was authorized as a sole‑source vendor because of ongoing support of the county’s existing proprietary equipment. - Loan & grant: $312,587 loan and $100,000 grant to support Villa Heights housing project; $412,587 appropriated and county administrator authorized to execute loan agreement with West Piedmont Planning District Commission — Approved 6‑0. - FY25→FY26 carryover: $68,043,828.31 (including $15,075,196.67 inter‑fund transfers) — Approved 6‑0.

What’s next: Staff will execute the contract with MCA and the loan agreement with West Piedmont Planning District Commission as authorized. The Villa Heights project will proceed under the terms presented to the board, and county finance staff will post the carryover amounts to the FY26 budget as committed funds.

Sources: Board presentations and motions at the Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting, Nov. 25, 2025.