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After Redskins deal schools ‘have yet to see a dime’

Posted at 11:52 PM, Feb 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-19 08:50:14-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Several promises were made when the Washington Redskins Training Camp came to Richmond last summer.

Part of the deal included the city leasing the former Westhampton property on Patterson Ave. to Bon Secours.

However, the lease came with some conditions listed in an ordinance.

One of the conditions required Bon Secours to pay the city $100,000 a year for 10 years for capital school projects. That money would go toward benefiting Richmond Public Schools.

"We have yet to see a dime," Richmond School Board member Kim Gray said about the deal.

CBS 6 learned the money to the city was supposed to be paid by January 2, 2014.

On Friday, February 14, CBS 6 reporter Chelsea Rarrick started to ask questions about the school money. Richmond Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Finance and Administration Sharon Judkins said the invoice was sent out the same day - February 14.

"We were due this money for our budgetary needs and I'm disappointed. But, it's not unexpected. It's becoming more and more of a pattern," Gray said.

In a statement, city spokeswoman Tammy Hawley said the finance department was unaware that Bon Secours required an invoice to meet the payment as the terms were set in the signed agreement.

"I fail to see how this happened under the  Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Finance's watch," Richmond City Council President Charles Samuels said.

Rarrick also went to City Hall Tuesday to speak to Judkins regarding the invoice.

A woman at the front desk told Rarrick that Judkins was busy and asked Rarrick to leave her contact information. Rarrick also reached out to Bon Secours regarding the payment.

"If you don't receive a bill, you can't do anything, " Bon Secours spokeswoman, Charlotte Perkins said.

Perkins said a payment has been processed and the wire went out Tuesday morning.

Still, Gray said the school board is waiting for answers as to when they'll see that money.

"We need the money, and we needed it yesterday," Gray said.