RICHLANDS, VA (LOOTPRESS)– Two residents of Richlands filed a lawsuit against the town over tax ordinances.
The town council voted eight days ago to approve the 2021-2022 fiscal budget. Both residents are now questioning the procedures in how the board approved it.
The court held a hearing on June 30, but no ruling has been issued yet.
An attorney with Galumbeck and Kegley, Aaron Gillespie, filed on behalf of Richland residents Richard Lon Wood II and Jannis White. The lawsuit sues the town and each council member on June 29. The suit alleges that the town violated the Code of Virginia and its charter.
The lawsuit alleged that the town passed the budget and ordinances without reaching the required number of public hearings. The suit also states that the town did not schedule the budget to be heard at regular council meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month.
The suit asks the court for the approved budget and ordinances to be declared null and void, a restraining order to prevent enforcement of the budget, and require the town to obtain the necessary public input.