Danville Unveils $395M Proposed Budget for 2027

Increased utility costs, casino revenue boost city services and investments

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:36am

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Danville city leaders have unveiled a proposed $395 million budget for 2027, representing a 3% increase from the current year. The budget includes higher utility costs for residents, as well as a significant boost from anticipated revenue from the new Caesars Virginia casino. While some council members raised concerns about road repairs, the budget aims to support core city services and make investments in economic opportunity, education, housing, and public safety using the casino funds.

Why it matters

Danville's proposed budget reflects the city's priorities and how it plans to allocate taxpayer dollars to provide services and make strategic investments. The inclusion of casino revenue as a new funding source raises questions about the sustainability and appropriate use of those funds, as well as the potential impact on residents' utility costs.

The details

The proposed $395 million budget represents a 3% increase from the current year. It includes higher utility costs for residents, with an average increase of $10-$11 per month, though Danville's rates would still remain below neighboring cities. The budget also factors in nearly $38 million in expected revenue from the new Caesars Virginia casino, which will be used for economic development, education, housing, and public safety initiatives. Some council members expressed concerns about the need for more road repairs, noting the casino revenue is not an unlimited source.

  • The proposed budget was unveiled during a Danville City Council meeting on March 18, 2026.
  • A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for June 2, 2026.
  • The city council is expected to vote on adopting the budget on June 16, 2026.

The players

Ken Larking

Danville City Manager, who presented the proposed $395 million budget to the city council.

Lee Vogler

Danville City Council member who raised concerns about the condition of North Main Street.

Danny Marshall

Danville City Council member who noted that the casino revenue is not an unlimited source and that road work should be prioritized.

Caesars Virginia

The new casino in Danville that is expected to generate nearly $38 million in revenue for the city in 2027.

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What they’re saying

“Your life is impacted in the city of Danville by some service that we provide as soon as you brush your teeth, for example.”

— Ken Larking, Danville City Manager

“While people might not like paying for something, they do like getting it, and so I want to make sure that they do get it and they get it consistently and they get it reliably.”

— Ken Larking, Danville City Manager

“We've been able to make investments beyond what we could've otherwise been able to do without increasing the tax burden for the people who live here.”

— Ken Larking, Danville City Manager

“Yeah, absolutely, I think you have to look at what the citizens want, everybody thinks that the casino money is just endless. You saw the chart up there where the money was going, and I think they spend it very wisely, but it's not unlimited buckets, so you got to prioritize what's important.”

— Danny Marshall, Danville City Council member

What’s next

The proposed budget will go through a public hearing on June 2, 2026, and the Danville City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting the budget on June 16, 2026.

The takeaway

Danville's proposed $395 million budget for 2027 reflects the city's efforts to balance increased utility costs, invest in core services, and leverage new casino revenue to fund economic development, education, housing, and public safety initiatives. However, some council members have raised concerns about the need to prioritize road repairs, highlighting the importance of carefully managing the city's limited resources.