Turning economic activity into community assets.Most residents do not follow every line of the Virginia state budget. But this is one change every Dumfries resident should understand.

Effective July 1, 2026, a Virginia state budget amendment will help more money generated from The Rose Gaming Resort come back to the Town of Dumfries.

For residents, the meaning is simple:

The Rose is here. The impact is here. More of the money generated here should come back here.

This is an important win for Dumfries, but it is also bigger than Dumfries. This change benefits other Virginia localities with Rosie’s and Rose facilities as well.

What changed?

The state budget amendment changes how certain money connected to Historical Horse Racing, often called HHR, is distributed.

HHR is the gaming system used at The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries and at Rosie’s locations across Virginia.

Under the old formula, some of the money generated at facilities like The Rose did not fully stay in the community where the facility is located. The original formula was built around the racetrack system because the racetrack made these facilities possible under Virginia’s licensing structure.

That meant the racetrack locality was receiving a share from multiple facilities across the Commonwealth.

That was the way the system was originally created. But as these facilities opened in communities across Virginia, including Dumfries, the local impact became clear.

Why Dumfries fought for the change

The Rose Gaming Resort is located in Dumfries.

That means the traffic is here.
The growth is here.
The public safety needs are here.
The infrastructure demands are here.
The long-term planning responsibilities are here.

So the question became simple: if the impact is local, why shouldn’t more of the money stay local?

That is why I raised this issue directly with the Chairman of Appropriations and made the case that communities like Dumfries should keep more of the money generated within our borders.

This was not about taking something away from anyone. It was about making the formula better reflect today’s reality.

Facilities like The Rose create local activity, local responsibility, and local opportunity. The communities carrying that impact should be positioned to invest more directly in the needs connected to that activity.

Thank you to the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus

I want to thank the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus for helping lead this effort and for recognizing the importance of making sure communities like ours benefit more directly from the economic activity happening within our borders.

Their leadership helped advance a change that benefits Dumfries and other localities across Virginia.

This is a reminder that local advocacy matters. When communities speak up clearly, respectfully, and consistently, change is possible.

What this could mean for residents

This change does not mean every need in Dumfries will be solved overnight. It does not mean we should spend money just because it is available.

It means Dumfries will have a stronger opportunity to plan, prioritize, and invest responsibly.

If handled with discipline and transparency, this money can help support:

• Stronger town services
• Public safety needs
• Infrastructure improvements
• Roads, sidewalks, and connectivity
• Parks and recreation
• Youth and family priorities
• Economic development
• Small area plan implementation
• Long-term community projects
• Future public facilities

The goal is not just to have more money in a budget.

The goal is to turn economic activity into community assets.

The responsibility ahead

Any new source of money must be handled carefully.

Gaming-related money can change from year to year. That means Dumfries should not become overly dependent on any single source of revenue. We must be responsible, conservative in our projections, transparent with residents, and focused on investments that create lasting value.

This is where leadership matters.

A win like this is only the beginning. The real work is making sure this opportunity becomes something residents can see, feel, and benefit from.

That means stronger services.
Better infrastructure.
Greater transparency.
Long-term planning.
And community assets that last beyond any one budget year.

The bigger vision for Dumfries

This is what Destination Dumfries is about.

We are working to become a community people drive to, not through. But becoming a destination is not just about attracting activity. It is about making sure that activity helps improve the lives of the people who live here.

The Rose Gaming Resort is part of Dumfries’ changing economic landscape. The question now is how we turn that activity into lasting benefit for residents.

The Rose is here.
The impact is here.
More of the money generated here should come back here.

That is the principle we fought for.

Now the responsibility is to turn this win into results.

That is how we keep moving Dumfries from overlooked to unforgettable.