RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – A Democratic state delegate representing parts of Richmond wants to stop the City from holding another casino vote.
The bill from Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) proposes removing language from the state code that makes Richmond eligible to be a host city for a casino.
Del. Carr’s proposal comes after Richmond voters soundly rejected the city’s casino dreams last November, and the city’s first casino vote failed by a slim margin.
State code doesn’t list the eligible cities — Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol – but lists specific limits that fit each.
Carr’s bill would strip out language making any city with more than 200,000 residents in 2018 population estimates from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia, at least 24% of the assessed value of all real estate is exempt from local property taxes in fiscal year 2018 and a poverty rate of at least 24% in 2017 eligible for a casino.
According to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia estimate, Richmond had more than 230,000 residents in 2018. More than a quarter of the assessed value of all real estate in the city was exempt from property taxes in fiscal year 2018.
Other lawmakers, including Del. Michael Jones (D-Richmond), who served as the Richmond City Council’s president during the City’s 2023 casino vote, have proposed legislation to block cities from holding another ballot referendum for three years after failed efforts.
Bills to make Petersburg and Fairfax County eligible for a casino vote have also been proposed for the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session. These casino-related bills have yet to be heard by a legislative committee.
