Virginia lawmakers are poised to reintroduce a bill that, if passed, would allow Fairfax County residents to vote on a referendum to bring a casino to the area.
Let’s take a closer look at the bill and how it might impact top-rated sportsbooks.
Casino Proposal Will Bring Tax Relief
A fifth casino locale is still up for grabs after voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth all voted yes to bringing the economic boost of new casino projects to their domain. Richmond has twice voted against such a project but Fairfax County is where the latest gambling palace could land. Virginia State Senator Dave Marsden believes the county could use a swift dose of revenue to alleviate some of the financial stressors on its residents.
“We’re in a situation where people are starting to really pay attention to how much they’re paying in taxes on their homes and on their cars,” Senator Marsden said. “We’re already seeing this year $450 on the average home going up on real estate taxes.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently raised property taxes in the county but that may not be enough as working remotely has diminished the need for traditional commercial space. That has had a reverberating effect on the local economy and supporters of the bill argue that the residents should be able to have a say in bringing more tax revenue to the county, lessening their burden to support the local government.
Marsden stated, “We have a serious situation going on here with a paradigm shift in worker behavior, which has led to huge numbers of office vacancies and much fewer buildings being leased out.
“We still have a number of years to go for leases to expire that were taken out before and during the pandemic. And as those leases expire, people are going to come back for much less floor space, just going to put a real hurt on the county’s revenue structure,” he added.
Not Everyone’s a Fan
Virginia State Senator Jennifer Boysko has argued that bringing a casino to a high-end commerce area is incongruent with the landscape of the area.
“The Silver Line where this is proposed to put the casino is Class A top real estate in the county,” said Boysko. “This is where the Fortune 500 companies have come to build their homes. This is where we have focused our economic development for years.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has taken a wait-and-see approach to the prospect of a casino, believing the ultimate decision should rest with those who reside there. Supervisor Pat Herrity has contemplated the idea of an entertainment district in the vicinity of a business district replete with a conference center to drive commerce to the area but has reservations about an increase in crime.
Herrity’s colleague, Supervisor Andres Jimenez, said, “Currently nothing has come before the Board of Supervisors for a vote, though proposals I’ve seen in the media involved locations outside of Mason District. No matter what happens at the state level, Fairfax County voters would have a chance to decide through a ballot referendum before anyone broke ground on a proposed project.”
Jiminez also believes that all parties involved should have a say in the proposed casino project, stating, “Fairfax County families deserve the best schools, roads, and quality of life that we can give. Keeping our options open as to funding sources is important for the long-term vision of Fairfax County so long as it aligns with our residents’ decisions. Additionally, any projects of this magnitude need to be planned with workers, laborers, and our community stakeholders having a significant voice at the table.”
