Resident tells Saltville council the town may have violated VA open‑meeting and budgeting statutes; seeks financial detail

During Citizen’s Time, resident Julie Loggins told the council she believes the town violated Virginia open‑meeting and budgeting statutes at the March 10 meeting. She said the March 10 closed session “did not have a subject matter at all,” which she cited as inconsistent with Va. Code §2.2‑3712. She also asked for a balance sheet and invoked Va. Code §15.2‑2504, saying she has previously requested the document and remains concerned about 36 line items that are over budget.

Loggins told the council that at the prior meeting a member moved to ask whether the town had sufficient funds to make it to the end of the fiscal year and that the request went unanswered and was not seconded. She framed these points as matters of statutory compliance and fiscal transparency.

No formal council action was taken in response to the citizen’s allegations during the meeting record. Town Manager Cecile Rosenbaum said staff are working with an outside group that assists localities with audits and expect to pursue a new auditor to help get the town’s audit work current and to recommend internal controls. Rosenbaum also said staff aim to present a draft budget to council in early May.

Why it matters: allegations that a locality failed to state a closed‑session purpose or has not produced statutorily required budget documentation raise procedural and transparency questions for residents and may require administrative correction or formal remedies if confirmed.

Next steps: Loggins’s concerns were placed on the public record; staff described work under way to update audits and internal controls and to deliver a draft budget to the council in early May.