During State of the County address, Henrico officials tout 'truly remarkable' efforts

Against the backdrop of Henrico’s newest, shiniest facility, Henrico County officials Nov. 16 painted the picture of a county humming on all cylinders.

The annual “State of the County” address at the new Henrico Sports and Events Center at Virginia Center provided a chance for Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas and a group of other high-ranking county officials to recap a year they described as having been filled with collaboration, expansion, economic growth, and overall vitality and promise.

So full has the past year been in Henrico, Vithoulkas told those assembled in seats and on bleachers, that its highlights couldn’t be condensed to a brief presentation.

“You cannot do the State of the County in 15 minutes,” he said, “not in this county.”

Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority Executive Director Dennis Bickmeier led those in attendance in chanting the SEA’s tagline: “Showtime – all the time,” a motto that seemed even more appropriate when he told the crowd that the new $50-million arena already is booked for 46 of 52 weekends next year. (The county will host a grand opening/open-house event for the public at the arena Monday, Dec. 4.)

The arena’s existence is further evidence of Henrico’s steady growth as a leader in sports tourism – and tourism in general – he said. Visitors to Henrico spent $1.7 billion last year, the fifth-highest total in Virginia. That total will increase next year, thanks to the arena and the many tournaments and events it brings.

“Our mission is clear: To strategically pursue, attract and host events that enhance the economic, social and cultural vitality of our community, by welcoming residents and visitors to world-class venues within Henrico County,” Bickmeier said. “It’s all about creating opportunities and enhancing our quality of life.”

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Henrico’s economic strength never has been more evident, Deputy County Manager for Administration Brandon Hinton and Henrico Economic Development Authority Executive Director Anthony Romanello said. Henrico’s gross county product (the total value of all goods and services produced in the county) is $27.1 billion – the fourth-highest of any locality in the state. And, Henrico is home to more than 200,000 jobs – second only in Virginia to Fairfax County, which is more than three times larger.

This year, Henrico has experienced more than $774 million in new investments within its borders, and because it reserves 10 cents of every dollar of tax revenue, the county’s general government has flexibility that most other localities don’t, Hinton said.

In the past three years, Hinton said, Henrico’s general fund balance – money left over after all expenses have been budgeted – has grown by about $200 million, to $475 million. And during the past two, Henrico has returned more than $76 million in real estate and personal property tax revenue to taxpayers. It’s also provided the typical Henrico employee with a 32% pay increase during the past 30 months or so, he said.

Henrico is implementing a new program to cap, in perpetuity, the real estate tax rates of seniors and disabled homeowners on fixed incomes.

“No other local government in Virginia offers permanent tax relief at income and net worth parameters of this size. This is truly remarkable work and life-changing legislation once again by our board of supervisors,” Hinton said.

It’s also about to launch a new program that will provide downpayment assistance to about 120 county employees annually who are buying their first homes.

And the county is remaking itself, in the form of 401 active capital improvement projects, Hinton said. Among them: 121 involving schools, 141 involving Henrico Public Works (many involving transportation infrastructure) and 78 involving Henrico Public Utilities (including water, sewer and drainage efforts).

The passage last November of a $511-million bond referendum is providing funds for a number of those initiatives.

“Many local governments are tapping the brakes when it comes to infrastructure spending, inflation, interest rates,” Hinton said. “Ladies and gentlemen, not Henrico. When this county makes a promise, it delivers.”

Of the Public Works projects, about two-thirds are solely focused on adding sidewalks, Public Works Director Terrell Hughes said, and most of the other involve them, too.

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A $280-million effort to build the massive Cobbs Creek Reservoir in Cumberland County is nearing completion and will secure drinking water for Henrico residents for 50 years or more, Hughes said.

Next summer, Henrico will open its newest park – the massive 99-acre Taylor Farm Park in Sandston, which will feature a skate park and pump track, a spray park, multi-use trails event lawn and playground, among other amenities. And just last month, the county broke ground on its 7.5-mile stretch of multi-use trails that will become part of the new 43-mile Fall Line Trail between Ashland and Petersburg.

Among other Henrico highlights noted during the event:

• Richmond International Airport set a record last year with 4.4 million passengers;

• Henrico Schools will add 800 seats to its career and technical education program through the expansion of Advanced Career Education centers at Highland Springs and Hermitage high schools and recently opened its adult education center at Regency Square;

• the school system has spent about $18 million on school security enhancements;

• all Henrico residents soon will have access to broadband internet service, thanks to a partnership between the county and a private provider, which will connect some customers in the far eastern reaches of the Varina District;

• Henrico Police officers will have removed more than 900 firearms from the streets by the end of this year.

“Henrico County’s best days are ahead of us,” Vithoulkas concluded.