Henrico County responds to Youngkin's line-item veto

The county government put out a statement expressing disappointment in the governor.

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking with the press Monday.

Henrico County responds to Youngkin’s line-item veto

Henrico County government responded to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s line-item veto on a budget proposal that would have required residents to approve a new slot-gaming facility at Staples Mill Shopping Center through a referendum vote.

“Henrico County is profoundly disappointed by the governor’s decision to remove voters from having a direct say in whether historical horse racing slot machine operators, such as Rosie’s, should operate in their backyards,” Henrico County said in a press release.

“In bipartisan fashion, the General Assembly outlined a transparent, public process that would give voters a voice in whether their communities should welcome these facilities. But instead of empowering voters, the governor’s decision rewards Rosie’s and similar companies that are uninterested in healthy, public engagement that is at the heart of a democracy.”

Youngkin spoke about his line-item veto during a press event Monday.

“I spoke to everybody, and what I learned was that had Colonial Downs gone to another site, then they would not have said they needed a new referendum,” he said. “They went to a different site because that was a site that they agreed with the county. They received all the permits they needed to start building. They invested $5 million in this new site, and then someone came and tried to change the rules. I just didn't think that was appropriate.”

Henrico Supervisor Dan Schmitt accused Rosie’s of avoiding meaningful discussion with the community on establishing this facility.

"As we’ve seen repeatedly in recent months, Rosie’s has done nothing but hide from Henrico’s voters and skirt meaningful discussion of its potential presence within our community," said Dan Schmitt, chair of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. "There will never be a day where Henrico County doesn’t fight for the voice of its residents."

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