Richmond fails to uphold transparency plan // Courthouse News Service challenges court practices // Public allowed to hear complaints against board // Richmond schools defend redactions in facilities department probe

Whoever footed the bill for the millions in outstanding short-term rental taxes that Richmond officials collected in recent months, it wasn’t individual “mom and pop operators,” a city spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. But asked who had covered the sizable tab — and whether companies like Airbnb and Vrbo had picked up the bill in lieu of individual short-term rental operators — the spokesperson said he was unable to comment, citing state laws that protect sensitive taxpayer information. … On May 14 — the same day officials unveiled their enforcement ramp-up — the Times-Dispatch asked where the delinquent dollars had originated. In response, officials said they could not offer any details on the source of the payments. So the newspaper submitted a request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act seeking records of any and all payments from Airbnb to City Hall. Officials declined to disclose four responsive records, citing a section of state code that makes it a misdemeanor to divulge sensitive taxpayer information. The Times-Dispatch pointed out that it had not sought confidential tax records at any point, and was merely looking for an answer as to who, exactly, had paid the city. In response, a city spokesperson confirmed that the $5.6 million had not originated from “mom and pop” Airbnbs, but added that he could not provide any further details on the source of the funds.