Rural Retreat council approves resolution to pursue delinquent-tax collections under state code

At a regular meeting, the Rural Retreat Town Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the town to pursue administrative collection remedies for delinquent taxes "as provided by and to the limits authorized under Virginia code 58.13958 and title 51.1 generally," as read into the record.

The motion to adopt the resolution was offered by Council member Lloyd (recorded in the minutes as moved by Council member Lloyd) and seconded by the mayor; the council approved the measure by voice vote. Staff explained the collection process could include billing, letters, phone calls and, if necessary, proceeding through the courthouse process; the town may add statutorily allowed penalties and recover attorney or collection agency fees.

The town’s finance reader reported the pool of delinquent accounts referenced in the discussion totaled $23,055.98. A staff member described the program as a way to reduce staff involvement in collections while enabling the town to recover taxes that have been outstanding for the required time frame.

Council members framed the action as a procedural step to give the town an additional collection tool rather than a new tax. The resolution cites state law as read in the meeting record; the transcript’s citation wording was recorded verbatim in council discussion (see provenance). The resolution takes effect immediately as a council direction to implement administrative collection remedies; the council did not record a roll-call vote in the meeting minutes, and the approval was confirmed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will proceed to contract or engage collection remedies under the adopted resolution and follow the administrative steps described during the meeting.