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October 23, 2018 <br /> <br />other cities. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Casino gaming is a potential source of a significant increase in local revenue <br />through taxes and the attraction of tourism and new businesses. This revenue could <br />offset in part the economic burden created by the imposition of tolls and reduction in local <br />revenues derived from VIG. <br /> <br /> State revenues from casino gaming could also be used to provide localities with <br />additional funds for education and other important local needs. <br /> <br /> For these and numerous other reasons, it behooves the Portsmouth City Council <br />to pass a resolution in support of legalizing casino gaming. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> Gaming venues would provide employment opportunities and new tax revenues <br /> <br />for Portsmouth. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the resolution. <br /> <br />1. Steve Carroll, 3112 River Edge Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. <br /> <br />2. Ross Cirrincione, 5017 Lake Circle, spoke in opposition to this item. <br /> <br />3. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, spoke in opposition to this item. <br /> <br />4. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. <br /> <br />Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following <br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AMENDING THE VIRGINIA CODE TO PERMIT <br />CASINO GAMING IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> since 2013 bills have been introduced in the Virginia General <br />Assembly to permit casino gaming in the Commonwealth; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, <br />on December 28, 2013 and January 10, 2017 Portsmouth City <br />Council adopted Resolutions expressing its support of legislation to permit casino gaming; <br />and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, <br />it is anticipated that similar legislation will be introduced for <br />consideration during the 2019 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, and the <br />Portsmouth City Council desires to express its support for such legislation; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> since 2014 Elizabeth River Tunnels (ERT), under an agreement with <br />the Commonwealth, has imposed tolls on the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels which <br />have created a substantial burden on Portsmouth residents, commuters and businesses; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> taxable sales city-wide in Portsmouth are estimated to have been <br />reduced by more than $2.2 million per quarter ($8.8 million annually) because of the tolls, <br />with the net effect in 2017 being a $488,000 reduction in tax revenue collected by the <br />City; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> based upon the number of workers who must use the tunnels as they <br />come and go from jobs in Portsmouth or travel east of the Elizabeth River to work, <br />Portsmouth remains the single most vulnerable city in the region with respect to the tolls, <br />6.3 times more impacted than Virginia Beach and 3.8 times more impacted than Norfolk; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> a typical resident of Portsmouth pays a larger share of his or her <br />income in tolls than a typical resident of other regional cities, even when using the tunnel <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />