Purcellville, VA — March 6, 2026
This afternoon, Purcellville Town Council members Erin Rayner, Caleb Stought, and Kevin Wright filed an urgent motion in the Loudoun County Circuit Court seeking to temporarily block any future tax votes by the Town Council until the court rules on their Petition for Declaratory Judgment, which is scheduled for hearing on April 15, 2026.
In a statement regarding the motion, the Petitioners emphasized, “Today, Purcellville Town Council members Rayner, Stought, and Wright filed an emergency motion seeking to temporarily enjoin any future tax votes by the Town Council of Purcellville prior to ruling on their Petition for Declaratory Judgment action. The Petitioners are asking the Circuit Court of Loudoun County to interpret how many votes are needed to properly pass tax rates in the Town of Purcellville.” They expressed concerns over actions taken by a majority of the council on February 10, 2026, when members voted to suspend regular rules to advance voting on the Personal Property Tax Rate and the Car License Fee during the same meeting as a public hearing.
The Petitioners argue that proceeding with tax votes amidst ongoing legal proceedings is inappropriate and potentially unlawful. Their emergency motion aims to preserve the status quo and eliminate uncertainties in voting until a legal interpretation is made regarding the requirements for passing tax rates under Virginia law.
Counsel for the Petitioners, Sarah Bruns, stated, “We look forward to presenting our case to the Court and ensuring that any future tax votes are conducted in full compliance with Virginia law.”
The legal context stems from prior discussions where concerns arose regarding the validity of tax votes that only required a simple majority rather than a two-thirds vote as stipulated by Virginia Code § 15.2-1427. The council’s decision to suspend rules and pass tax rates generated significant objections from the Petitioners, who assert that such actions undermine the integrity of local governance and violate state statute.
The court is now faced with the urgent request to evaluate whether to grant a temporary injunction that would prevent the Town Council from voting on any tax rates until after the scheduled hearing on April 15, where the core legal questions surrounding tax rate passage will be addressed.
As hearings continue and the implications of this motion unfold, the outcome may set a critical precedent for tax governance not only in Purcellville but potentially across municipalities in Virginia.
For further updates on this developing situation, stay tuned to Purcellville News.
