FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Are the sounds of slot machines in Fairfax County's future?
A Virginia Senate committee will vote on Wednesday on a bill that would allow the county to put a casino referendum on a ballot.
State Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) re-introduced legislation, SB-675, after he previously introduced it in 2022 without it going anywhere. The difference – since then there have been casinos popping up on Virginia's southern border.
His proposal includes not just the casino, but also a convention center, concert hall or entertainment district, hotel, and other amenities.
Marsden's preferred location is near the Spring Hill Metro stop in Tysons Corner, but the legislation would allow the county to pick an area anywhere near one of the Silver Line Metro stations – this includes Reston.
As part of his push, Marsden said in a subcommittee meeting on Tuesday that Fairfax County needs the economic growth after the pandemic stalled the commercial real estate revenue and increased the office vacancy rate in Tysons Corner.
He believes it would increase Metro ridership and pull in about 4,400 jobs.
"We're losing $150 million to MGM, 30% of the money earned by that facility comes from Virginia," Marsden told WUSA9. "This is the future. Either you compete or you die. Right now everyone in Fairfax thinks everything is ducky because they haven't noticed anything. Well, the federal money is drying up."
"Do I think casinos are a great thing? No, I don't," he added. "It's the reality that we have to do."
The Reston Citizens Association weighed in on the topic on Tuesday – opposing it.
"Reston Citizens Association in the strongest possible terms opposes the potential action by the Virginia Senate authorizing a Fairfax County referendum for the consideration of any casinos and related 'public entertainment' developments in Fairfax County."
In a report from their meeting, they continued by stating that no issue has generated such wide-spread and passionate opposition by citizens from all across Fairfax County.
The General Laws and Technology Committee voted to refer the bill to the Finance Committee with substitutes. If this passes the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, residents in Fairfax County would still get to vote on a referendum ballot.
However, Chairman Jeff McKay said he's concerned by the lack of details and communication before this was introduced.
"We did not request this and one of the reasons we didn't request it is because we didn't have those kinds of conversations and analysis and understand the implications for residents," McKay told WUSA9. "We're troubled by the process here that we weren't brought in earlier."
McKay also questioned how much the county should be benefiting since the parcel of land in mind is lucrative.
"The local share revenue is about a quarter of the revenue that comes in," he added. "The state is the biggest winner in these casinos and localities are left dealing with the challenges."
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