Not so fast...city takes back $5 million incorrectly transferred to HTRFA

It's March 11. Following a citizen's complaint, Williamsburg acknowledges it needs to vote to transfer money to the sporting events authority. James City County to keep closer tabs on Airbnb's.

From left, HTRFA executive director Dana Creech Youst, Williamsburg City CFO Barbara Dameron, HTRFA Chair Scott Stevens (Williamsburg Watch photos)

The city of Williamsburg pulled back $5 million it had transferred to the local recreational authority last year for a music venue, just weeks after a citizen called out the city on the legality of the payment.

City Finance Director Barbara Dameron announced during a meeting of the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority Wednesday that the money was moved back to city accounts March 1.

“City council hadn’t formally appropriated it,” Dameron told Williamsburg Watch.

She said the amphitheater budget had been approved back in 2023 as a city project. But the city later decided to move the money to HTRFA for it to spend on the project, which under state code requires a separate appropriation.

No one questioned the legality of the change until city resident Robert Wilson protested at last month’s city council meeting that transferring the money to HTRFA required a new public hearing and an appropriation vote by city council.

“To be honest, we wouldn’t have really examined it” without…