Under a provision of the budget recently adopted by the Virginia Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, Richmond would not be allowed to hold a second referendum on the ONE Casino + Resort which local voters rejected last fall.
The budget provision would direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to hire an independent consultant “for a limited review of the potential state and local revenues that may be generated from a casino located in the city of Petersburg, including any potential negative revenue impact on casinos located in other authorized host cities.” While that review is being conducted, Richmond would not be allowed to hold a second referendum.
Earlier this month, the Senate Finance committee rejected a bill sponsored by state Senator Joe Morrissey that would have added Petersburg to the list of five cities, including Richmond, authorized by lawmakers in 2020 to host a casino resort, subject to local voter approval. Morrissey’s bill would have blocked Richmond from holding a second referendum for five years, or until 2026.
Morrissey said, “It’s only fair that the JLARC report be completed and that Richmond be stopped from going forward with a referendum until that appears.” He said the JLARC study is sure to indicate “Petersburg meets all of the parameters, all of the metrics of a host city. And, in fact, I believe it will show it’s the most deserving of the now six possible host cities.”
The Richmond city council voted last month to seek a second vote after Mayor Levar Stoney proposed using the casino revenue to lower the city’s real estate tax rate by 2 cents per $100 of assessed value. Stoney said, “I am disappointed in Senate Democrats for inserting a prohibition on the city of Richmond in their budget proposal. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic something will be worked out between the chambers that will allow for Richmond to pursue this game-changing opportunity again.”
Sen. Jennifer McClellan said she supports the budget language because it would allow time for the state to study the potential for a casino in Petersburg, as it did with other cities. She stated, “The amendment requires Petersburg to follow the same process the other five cities followed by requiring JLARC review and maintains the status quo pending that review.”
Voters approved proposed casinos in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Danville and Bristol. However, Richmond voters rejected the $565 million casino proposed in South Side by the media company Urban One and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, owner of Colonial Downs and Rosie’s gaming emporiums.
