Henry County Board of Supervisors update

By Staff Reports

The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed $168 million budget for year (FY) 2021-22 on May 10.

The budget, which represents a 7.3 percent increase over the current year, held the line on real estate taxes.

Real estate taxes will be $0.555 per $100 of assessed value. Personal property taxes will be $1.55 per $100 of assessed value for personal property, including motor vehicles. Machinery and tools taxes will be the same rate. For motor vehicle license fees, cars will be $20.75, and motorcycles and trailers will be $12. 

School expenditures were adopted on a motion from Dr. J. David Martin, of the Iriswood District, and a second by Vice-Chairman Debra Buchanan, of the Horsepasture District. 

The total county budget was adopted for fiscal planning purposes on a motion by Martin, and a second by Joe Bryant, of the Collinsville District. 

No county funds can be expended or obligated until an appropriation of the budget is made. 

The board will meet on May 25 to appropriate the budget. 

The board also approved an additional appropriation of $1,640,525 from FY21 funds for capital improvement items. On the motion by Buchanan and second by Martin, the funds will be used for the removal of unsafe structures ($90,000), replacement vehicle in building inspection ($34,000), digitization of records for the Circuit Court clerk’s office ($13,725), employment management software for human resources ($22,000), server replacement for information services ($30,000), emergency radio system component replacements ($60,000), roof replacement at the Henry County Recreation Center ($175,000), vehicle replacement in Parks and Recreation ($36,000), vehicle replacement in Public Safety training division ($39,000), repairs to the Public Safety Burn Building ($20,000), replacement of front loader for Refuse Department ($315,000), replacement of four patrol cars for Sheriff’s office ($156,000), and for the purchase of electronic poll books for Registrar’s Office ($85,000). 

The board also approved a proclamation declaring the week as Police Officers Memorial Week. 

Six local officers who died in the line of duty were recognized in a May 12 ceremony.   

Ryan Zehr, of the Ridgeway District, did not attend the meeting.