Fairfax On line casino Invoice Shelved Till 2025, Research To Be Accomplished
The Fairfax on line casino invoice pushed by state Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) has been shelved till a minimum of 2025.
Virginia Sen. David Marsden testifies earlier than the state Senate Finance & Appropriations Sources Subcommittee about his on line casino invoice on Feb. 1, 2024. Marsden needs to permit Fairfax County to have a on line casino, however his invoice was shelved till a minimum of 2025. (Picture: Virginia Senate)
The Senate Finance & Appropriations Sources Subcommittee voted 4-0 on Thursday to hold the invoice over to subsequent yr’s session.
Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), the subcommittee chair, instructed the committee and people in attendance on Thursday that she’s the “On line casino Queen” and is supportive of consideration of laws that might permit Fairfax officers and their constituents to deliberate a on line casino. However she thinks an up to date evaluation of the potential financial advantages and downsides to a on line casino within the Tysons space is required earlier than Marsden’s Senate Invoice 675 strikes ahead.
“I want to see some up to date projections as a result of I want to preserve this invoice alive,” Lucas mentioned.
Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit & Evaluate Fee (JLARC) checked out Northern Virginia when state lawmakers drafted their 2020 business gaming invoice. State researchers concluded {that a} on line casino within the northern a part of the commonwealth would generate $155 million yearly in state tax income from gaming, make use of round 3,200 individuals, and recoup about $100 million in gaming cash that’s presently being misplaced to casinos in Maryland.
Native Opposition
A number of group boards and householders’ associations in Fairfax voiced robust opposition to Marsden’s on line casino push. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week penned a letter to state officers claiming they had been saved out of Marsden’s authoring of the on line casino invoice and weren’t requested for enter on the matter.
The group deserves to know all the main points of a significant proposal like this, particulars resembling what is definitely included within the proposal, the proposed website, potential revenues, group impacts, site visitors impacts, and extra earlier than the Normal Meeting considers it,” Fairfax County Supervisor Chair Jeff McKay instructed FFXNow. “We nonetheless do not need all the info we want.”
Marsden mentioned it’s his job “to present my county choices” relating to financial improvement avenues.
Due to the pandemic, which hit us exhausting, Fairfax County is shedding lots of business actual property revenue and the decline in Metro ridership has added vastly to the burden,” Marsden mentioned. “I feel it’s time to ship this to the native authorities for them to make their very own analytics, make their very own selections about this, the professionals and cons, and determine whether or not they need to have a referendum.”
Marsden’s invoice wants legislative help and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) signing. If that had been to occur, the Fairfax authorities could be allowed to discipline on line casino bids and current the most suitable choice to voters. If a majority of county voters permitted of the mission, solely then wouldn’t it be formally cleared.
Marsden Stresses Significance
Marsden thinks Fairfax County householders ought to be prepared for property tax will increase within the coming years to keep up their high quality colleges, infrastructure, and first responder companies. He says the county’s property tax base is dwindling within the pandemic aftermath as many employers proceed to permit staffers to earn a living from home and appreciable workplace area stays vacant.
Whereas Fairfax County residential actual property assessments elevated by 7% in 2023, business property values grew solely modestly by 1.65%.
“I don’t need anyone to say 10 years from now, ‘Gee, why didn’t any individual anticipate the adjustments in our income image right here in Fairfax County and make changes?’” Marsden mentioned final month.
