Petersburg officials call proposed casino revenue sharing plan ‘unjust,’ ‘harmful’
PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- City officials are calling a proposal that relates to Petersburg's $1.4 billion casino an "unjust," "harmful" and "immoral" plan that would deprive a "distressed city" of resources it needs. On Monday, Jan. 13, the city of Petersburg issued a statement on the recent introduction of House Bill 2232 by Del. Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights). The measure, if passed, would create a "Tri-Cities Improvement Commission," comprised of representatives from Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Dinwiddie County and Prince George County. Those appointed representatives -- who would serve 2-year terms -- would be responsible for disbursing gaming revenues equally across the Tri-Cities. According to the bill's text, they would prioritize education, transportation and public safety improvements. This would seemingly impact the $1.4 billion Petersburg casino that voters just overwhelmingly voted in favor of during the 2024 General Election. In a Facebook post on Monday, Petersburg officials said Cherry asked the city not to comment on the measure at this time -- but officials chose to comment "following Delegate Kim Taylor's remarks to the media." Del. Kim Taylor (R) represents Petersburg and, according to the city, "strongly support[s]" the measure. City officials said HB 2232 was "submitted without any prior consultation with Petersburg City Council, Administration or any surrounding local government." "[It] is an act that disregards local government and the citizens served," the city said. "This lack of communication is particularly troubling given the City's ongoing and regular discussions with Delegate Taylor and her staff about the city's legislative agenda. Multiple opportunities existed with Delegate Taylor and her staff to engage with the city on [the bill,] yet no effort was made to alert the City by Delegates Taylor or Cherry regarding this harmful bill." The city provided several reasons it is against HB 2232, including that it "strips from Petersburg [the] essential revenue from a key economic development project." Officials said the measure "disregards the will of Petersburg voters" and threatens regional cooperation through a "damaging revenue-sharing mandate" that "was neither discussed nor agreed upon at a local or state level." "[It] attempts to set a destructive precedent whereby the Commonwealth dictates and redistributes local economic development revenues, taking control away from local governments and citizens," the city said. According to Petersburg officials, Cherry and Taylor have suggested that HB 2232 is similar to an arrangement made for the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol. The city rejected this comparison, saying that it is not the same because the agreement was made before that casino's referendum was raised. "[This bill,] however, attempts to impose revenue sharing without prior discussion or consensus, making it an unjust and harmful measure," the city said. "Such a forced mandate is particularly immoral when it targets a distressed city like Petersburg, depriving our locality of much-needed resources to support its many needs." The city said it is asking Cherry and Taylor to withdraw the bill immediately, adding that it "insults the residents of Petersburg" and "prioritizes political self-interest during an election year above economic and local well-being." You can read the full statement from the City of Petersburg below. Page one of the city of Petersburg's statement on HB 2232. (Photo: City of Petersburg)Page two of the city of Petersburg's statement on HB 2232. (Photo: City of Petersburg) 8News reached out to Taylor's office to confirm her position on HB 2232 and for comment on the city's statement. We have not heard back as of the time of reporting. 8News also reached out to Cherry's office for comment on the city's statement. A spokesperson said that "conversations regarding HB 2232 are still ongoing" and that a statement will hopefully be issued later this week.
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PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- City officials are calling a proposal that relates to Petersburg's $1.4 billion casino an "unjust," "harmful" and "immoral" plan that would deprive a "distressed city" of resources it needs.
On Monday, Jan. 13, the city of Petersburg issued a statement on the recent introduction of House Bill 2232 by Del. Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights).
The measure, if passed, would create a "Tri-Cities Improvement Commission," comprised of representatives from Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Dinwiddie County and Prince George County.
Those appointed representatives -- who would serve 2-year terms -- would be responsible for disbursing gaming revenues equally across the Tri-Cities. According to the bill's text, they would prioritize education, transportation and public safety improvements.
This would seemingly impact the $1.4 billion Petersburg casino that voters just overwhelmingly voted in favor of during the 2024 General Election.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Petersburg officials said Cherry asked the city not to comment on the measure at this time -- but officials chose to comment "following Delegate Kim Taylor's remarks to the media." Del. Kim Taylor (R) represents Petersburg and, according to the city, "strongly support[s]" the measure.
City officials said HB 2232 was "submitted without any prior consultation with Petersburg City Council, Administration or any surrounding local government."
"[It] is an act that disregards local government and the citizens served," the city said. "This lack of communication is particularly troubling given the City's ongoing and regular discussions with Delegate Taylor and her staff about the city's legislative agenda. Multiple opportunities existed with Delegate Taylor and her staff to engage with the city on [the bill,] yet no effort was made to alert the City by Delegates Taylor or Cherry regarding this harmful bill."
The city provided several reasons it is against HB 2232, including that it "strips from Petersburg [the] essential revenue from a key economic development project." Officials said the measure "disregards the will of Petersburg voters" and threatens regional cooperation through a "damaging revenue-sharing mandate" that "was neither discussed nor agreed upon at a local or state level."
"[It] attempts to set a destructive precedent whereby the Commonwealth dictates and redistributes local economic development revenues, taking control away from local governments and citizens," the city said.
According to Petersburg officials, Cherry and Taylor have suggested that HB 2232 is similar to an arrangement made for the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol. The city rejected this comparison, saying that it is not the same because the agreement was made before that casino's referendum was raised.
"[This bill,] however, attempts to impose revenue sharing without prior discussion or consensus, making it an unjust and harmful measure," the city said. "Such a forced mandate is particularly immoral when it targets a distressed city like Petersburg, depriving our locality of much-needed resources to support its many needs."
The city said it is asking Cherry and Taylor to withdraw the bill immediately, adding that it "insults the residents of Petersburg" and "prioritizes political self-interest during an election year above economic and local well-being."
You can read the full statement from the City of Petersburg below.
Page one of the city of Petersburg's statement on HB 2232. (Photo: City of Petersburg)
Page two of the city of Petersburg's statement on HB 2232. (Photo: City of Petersburg)
8News reached out to Taylor's office to confirm her position on HB 2232 and for comment on the city's statement. We have not heard back as of the time of reporting.
8News also reached out to Cherry's office for comment on the city's statement. A spokesperson said that "conversations regarding HB 2232 are still ongoing" and that a statement will hopefully be issued later this week.
