Board approves $62,500 Virginia Derby sponsorship; rejects immediate funding for New Kent Elementary design
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Summary
The board voted to transfer $62,500 from Colonial Downs revenues to fund a Virginia Derby sponsorship but voted down a separate motion to appropriate $130,732.99 (plus $18,665) for engineering and design work on a proposed New Kent Elementary replacement, after debate over timing and fiscal policy.
The New Kent County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a $62,500 budget transfer from the Colonial Downs Reserve to the EDA incentive program to fund the county's title sponsorship of the 2026 Virginia Derby, a nationally televised event. County staff said the sponsorship will be paid from Colonial Downs (Rosie's) revenues and not from general tax funds.
County Administrator Rodney Hathaway told the board the sponsorship amount is $62,500 and described it as equivalent to roughly a day and a half of Rosie's revenues for the year. After brief discussion about the advertising and tourism benefits, the board adopted the appropriation by roll call.
Separately, the board considered a request to transfer $130,732.99 from the Colonial Downs Reserve and $18,665 from the New Kent Elementary School feasibility line to complete the engineering and design phase for a New Kent Elementary replacement (the total design phase cost was presented as $2,460,553). School division leaders described urgent HVAC and infrastructure risks inside the existing building and urged the board to move forward with design work so the project can be ready for financing.
Board members debated the timing, fiscal policy and the county's debt and budget obligations. A motion to appropriate the requested $149,397.99 for the engineering and design phase was put to a roll‑call vote and failed, with two members voting to appropriate the funds and three voting against.
Votes recorded in the meeting minutes: Colonial Downs sponsorship appropriation — approved by roll call; New Kent Elementary design appropriation (motion to appropriate $130,732.99 plus $18,665) — motion failed on a roll call vote (2 in favor, 3 opposed).
