State legislators will discuss a bill that, if approved, will allow local residents to decide on a casino
Legislators in Virginia are preparing to re-introduce a proposal for Fairfax County residents to vote on a referendum to build a casino and conference center in Tysons. The proposal was submitted in Richmond early in the current legislative session but will most likely be introduced again in the next General Assembly.
Senator Dave Marsden said he sees many advantages to a possible Fairfax County casino facility.
“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 and what have you,” Marsden said. “We’re already seeing this year $450 on the average home going up on real estate taxes.”
However, he cautioned that commercial tax revenue is expected to take a dive in Fairfax County due to low demand for office space and an increase in remote workers. “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,” added Marsden.
Many lawmakers are opposed to the new casino project, including Senator Jennifer Boysdo, who voted ‘no’ to the proposal during this year’s legislative session.
“The Silver Line where this is proposed to put the casino is Class A top real estate in the county,” stated 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.”
If passed, voters in Fairfax County will have the last word on the Tysons casino proposal.
