Opinion and Fact
During the January Russell County Board of Supervisors meeting County Administrator Lonzo Lester gave a report on the Casino Board. Lonzo stated that Bristol VA wanted to reduce the funding to the counties and have more of the money for themselves.
The interesting part was the financial situation that Lonzo shared about Bristol. He stated they are in debt for over $250 million dollars and that was not counting the landfill costs. From what Lonzo stated one can assume he claims the city finances have been mismanaged.
Lonzo brought up the fact that even though they are in debt this past year they committed to building a new ball field with an estimated $6 million dollar cost. He stated that they keep pouring more money into Clear Creek golf course. Lonzo stated that the interest in loans would gobble up any money they get from the counties.
After a recent CDC report came out with what they thought were some possible side effects of the odor and fumes coming off thee landfill, the city is probably facing health related lawsuits coming down the path. And if this starts there is no telling the money amount or the number of lawsuits the city may be facing.
If Bristol is in such dire straits, then one would assume that eventually the city will have to declare bankruptcy or get a bailout from the state. If they declare bankruptcy the city would dissolve and become part of Washington County. This has been investigated in the past and Washington County would not incur the debt. The city would then mostly likely become the town of Bristol instead of a city. Washington County would then be able to get the tax money from all of Bristol. But, with Bristol becoming a town Washington County would have to deal with the school system. Could the county afford keeping VA High and John Battle both open?
Bristol City had the largest tax increase in SWVA. And it appears that is not enough so they are coming after the other counties casino money. It would have to be approved through the general assembly in Richmond. The Casino Board took a vote on giving Bristol more and of the ones that voted it was tied 7 to 7. Russell County of course voted no.
Lonzo also stated that BVU giving up the internet service to Point Broadband was a major mistake as he felt that it could have been a big money maker for BVU had they not gave it away.
One thing that was troubling about his speech to the board on the issue was how Lonzo thought Russell County was in such good shape. Russell is in such good shape that they had to raise taxes and it was one of the largest tax increases in the area last year. He also hinted that taxes again might need to be raised.
I appreciate the stance of the Russell County Board of Supervisors standing up for our county and not giving them money. Supervisor Andrew Hensley needs to be commended for his strong stance on the issue.
During the speech by Lonzo he revealed that Russell County had $20 million dollars in reserves and that Washington County had 81 million dollars in reserves. In both of these counties a large portion of those reserves are restricted to be spent on just certain things. If a county administrator wanted to help the actual budgets with restricted money, they could find things to pay for that is not restricted in the budgets. For example, casino money can only be spent on public safety, fire, and education but the administrator could find something in the education budget to pay for with this money while reducing the overall budget.
Lonzo until that night has never given anyone even a whiff of how much was in reserves in Russell County. I am only assuming about $4 million dollars is free money in savings. I assume the other $16 million dollars is restricted. The restricted could be like casino, opioid settlement money and emergency money restricted like for disasters. Washington County has about $34 million in reserves that is free and unattached, but it did not stop them from a 3-cent tax increase.
It will be up to state senators Todd Pillion and Travis Hackworth along with representatives Israel O’Quinn and Will Morefield whether legislation is presented to the state to take money from the counties and give it to the City of Bristol.
As for now there is a peaceful civil war going on between the city and the surrounding localities.
