According to reports from WJHL and Kingsport Times: The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) for May reached a record-breaking $23 million, according to the Virginia Lottery. This figure represents the total money wagered at the casino’s slot machines and table games after winnings are paid out. The casino also reported that $18,743,088.25 was generated from 1,423 slot machines and $4,283,606.25 from 73 table games.
I made a FOIA request for Washington County and it was reported to me that $713,390 for the physical year 24-25 from their share of casino payouts. They project for 25-26 that the county will receive $850,000 from casino payouts.
Many have asked me about the casino payouts to the county. This money is restricted to education or public safety. Even though this new revenue showed up with the casino they had to raise real estate taxes 3 cents per $100 of value. They increased your taxes and apparently have increased spending while having 30 million in reserves. In a recent article Three County News informed the public that just the School Board employees alone cost the county over 5 million dollars before they even get to paying education staff. Also, it shows from the list that Washington County Schools have two assistant superintendents. Not sure at the time I am writing this, but I assume no other county in our area has two assistant superintendents. Also, they have a supervisor for everything. If you really as a taxpayer want to get a handle on this then seek to have your school system have a superintendent that wants to cut spending and it could start at the school board office.
The Washington County Government states the casino money is used for education and public safety. If that is the case one would think the school budget and the sheriff budget would be decreased by these numbers. I know that is not the case as the school budget increases every year.
The truth! People have asked me about should the casino money help them out on taxes. The casino money did not directly help any taxpayer because the county raised real estate taxes. The final word is no. The casino money did not change anything for the amount the citizens have to pay in taxes.
