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Richmond & Henrico Health Districts outline priorities, staffing gaps and FY26 budget breakdown
Summary
Officials from the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts briefed the committee on a shared-leadership model, program priorities (mental health/substance use, chronic disease, community safety), WIC and resource centers, and a fiscal‑year 2026 budget where staffing accounts for roughly 85% of costs; presenters said they have 115 positions with 15 vacancies.
Elaine Perry, director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, and Diana Kroner, the districts' chief operations officer, told the committee about programs, staffing and the fiscal‑year 2026 budget.
Perry said the two districts operate under shared leadership while maintaining separate budgets and that program work is coordinated because public‑health issues cross municipal boundaries. She described the districts' headquarters at 400 East Cary Street, multiple resource centers and a relocated Southside WIC service. Perry summarized results from the joint community health assessment (CHA) and said the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities are mental health and substance‑use disorder, community safety/violence prevention, and chronic disease.
Kroner presented the FY26 budget, saying the city is required to provide a 34 percent match under the local government agreement and that roughly 85 percent of annual funds are budgeted for staffing. She explained funding lines that include state general fund, federal grants (notably the WIC program, which she said is 100 percent federally funded), and local revenues such as clinical and environmental health fees.
In questions, committee members asked about measurable CHIP targets and timeframes; presenters said CHIP goals and metrics are in draft and that implementation is expected over a multi‑year horizon (roughly 2025–2027 with some items extending to 2028). Members also discussed resource‑center impacts and the need for clinic‑appropriate space for the Southside resource center; presenters said facilities with plumbing and clinical capacity are required and that the state will publish an RFP to identify a suitable site.
No formal budget action was taken by the committee at this meeting; staff said district documents and draft CHIP materials are publicly available and will be posted on the district website.
