A proposed bill to establish a commission overseeing the regional distribution of tax revenue from Petersburg’s upcoming casino has ignited heated discussions among local leaders.
The bill, introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates on January 8 by Del. Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights), aims to create the Tri-Cities Improvement Commission (T-CIC), which would manage casino-related revenue and allocate it among localities within a 10-mile radius of Petersburg with average household incomes below $81,000.
If enacted, the legislation would distribute funds equally to Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, and Prince George based on priorities determined by the commission. The commission members, appointed by each locality, would serve two-year terms.
The model mirrors a system in southwest Virginia, where a multi-locality commission manages tax revenue from the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol. Similar revenue-sharing mechanisms have been used in other cities hosting casinos.
Petersburg, which secured the casino bid after Richmond voters rejected it in two referendums, approved the project in a landslide vote last November. The city’s casino partners, The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise, plan to break ground on the facility this spring.
Del. Kim Taylor (R-Dinwiddie), whose district includes Petersburg, expressed support for Cherry’s proposal, highlighting the regional economic potential of the casino. “Establishing this commission ensures that all regional stakeholders, including members of the public, are given agency to ensure that revenue from the casino is equitably distributed amongst the localities,” she said through a spokesperson.
However, Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg), who sponsored earlier casino-related legislation, revealed to The Progress-Index that she was not informed in advance of Cherry’s bill. Aird plans to review the proposal before commenting.
Petersburg’s Ward 1 Councilor, Marlow Jones, voiced strong opposition, describing the legislation as an effort to undermine Petersburg’s opportunity to reap the benefits of the casino. In a social media post, Jones criticized the revenue-sharing plan, arguing that neighboring localities would already profit from increased visitors due to their existing infrastructure.
“This initiative appears to be a deliberate attempt to keep Petersburg shackled in the shadows of prosperity. This is ‘our’ moment, Petersburg!” he wrote.
Jones proposed a countermeasure that would require adjacent localities to contribute to Petersburg’s public services. His suggestions include assigning additional police officers and firefighters to Petersburg, sharing public works resources, and increasing funding for the city’s schools and social services.
Cherry’s bill is expected to proceed to the House General Laws Committee for further deliberation. Meanwhile, tensions among local leaders highlight the challenges of balancing regional collaboration with local priorities as Petersburg prepares to transform into a casino hub.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/13/91686-virginia-petersburg-leaders-clash-over-casino-tax-distribution-proposal
