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R -18 -30 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AMENDING THE VIRGINIA CODE TO PERMIT CASINO GAMING IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. WHEREAS, since 2013 bills have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly to permit casino gaming in the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, on December 28, 2013 and January 10, 2017 Portsmouth City Council adopted Resolutions expressing its support of legislation to permit casino gaming; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that similar legislation will be introduced for consideration during the 2019 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, and the Portsmouth City Council desires to express its support for such legislation; and WHEREAS, since 2014 Elizabeth River Tunnels (ERT), under an agreement with the Commonwealth, has imposed tolls on the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels which have created a substantial burden on Portsmouth residents, commuters and businesses; and WHEREAS, taxable sales city -wide in Portsmouth are estimated to have been reduced by more than $2.2 million per quarter ($8.8 million annually) because of the tolls, with the net effect in 2017 being a $488,000 reduction in tax revenue collected by the City; and WHEREAS, based upon the number of workers who must use the tunnels as they come and go from jobs in Portsmouth or travel east of the Elizabeth River to work, Portsmouth remains the single most vulnerable city in the region with respect to the tolls, 6.3 times more impacted than Virginia Beach and 3.8 times more impacted than Norfolk; and WHEREAS, a typical resident of Portsmouth pays a larger share of his or her income in tolls than a typical resident of other regional cities, even when using the tunnel the same number of times, meaning that Portsmouth's economic ability to pay the tolls is not as high as that of other cities; and WHEREAS, the local revenues derived from casino gaming would provide a substantial economic boost to the city to counteract in part the economic burden of the tolls; and WHEREAS, the state revenues derived from casino gaming would provide additional funds for education and other important and underfunded local needs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that it supports and endorses the adoption of legislation permitting casino gaming in the Commonwealth of Virginia and directing that revenue from gaming be used to benefit localities including Portsmouth; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager is directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to the members of the Portsmouth General Assembly delegation.