Virginia State Delegate Mike Cherry provided an end of May update to constituents in the 74th District on June 2. The update addressed the state budget process, ongoing concerns at Shoosmith Landfill, recent legislative actions, and developments related to redistricting.
Cherry said that the House of Delegates will return to Richmond on June 18 to continue work on the state budget, with the Senate returning on June 22. He said a new fiscal year begins July 1 and that if a budget is not in place by then, “the state government will shut down.” Cherry said Democrats have not produced a budget for a vote and that “the conference committee responsible for hammering out the differences between House and Senate proposals has not met since early March.” He added that taxation of data centers is currently holding up progress: “The increase in local tax revenue is one of the reasons why many local governments are willing–if not eager–to approve new projects in their communities. And while the discussion about ending certain tax breaks for data centers is an appropriate one to have, it should have occurred during regular session and not be used to hold up the state budget.”
Regarding Shoosmith Landfill, Cherry referenced his earlier communication about its bankruptcy status. He said that “the now bankrupt dump will soon be unable to properly manage the toxic leachate that is a byproduct of landfills” and noted an immediate stabilization cost estimate of $50 million. Cherry stated: “At present, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is working to finalize a plan for the state to take over management of this site. There is a hope that a plan will be included in the upcoming state budget.”
Cherry also discussed recent legislative activity following action by Governor Spanberger on all bills from this year’s General Assembly session. He highlighted her veto decision regarding collective bargaining: “The most notable veto…was the decision to veto collective bargaining.” Cherry described his previous communication with Governor Spanberger about potential administrative costs for Colonial Heights and Chesterfield if such legislation passed.
On redistricting matters, Cherry referenced a May 8 Virginia Supreme Court ruling invalidating how a referendum was placed on ballots due to constitutional violations: “Because they opted to rush the process and ignore the law, millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted for a referendum that does not count.” He added that an appeal was declined by the US Supreme Court.
Cherry concluded his message by encouraging constituents to follow him on social media platforms for further updates and reaffirmed his commitment as their representative.
Cherry was elected as Republican delegate representing Virginia’s 74th House district in 2024 after replacing Lamont Bagby,according to Mike Cherry’s campaign website.
