Richmond City Council to vote on source of multi-million payment to wrongfully incarcerated man

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- To avoid losing state funding, the city of Richmond will meet again to decide how it will come up with the $5.8 million it owes Marvin Grimm.

Grimm was wrongfully incarcerated for more than 4 decades, and as part of his restitution the city is required by law to pay half of a more than $11 million sum. On Monday the council is expected to discuss using funds originally planned for affordable housing to pay him.

After much debate last week, a council subcommittee voted 6 to 3 to advance the ordinance to pay Grimm from the “‘Delinquent Tax Sales’ special fund.” That fund includes money generated by the sale of properties with unpaid real estate taxes.

Back in 2019, the council decided annual transfers of up to $1 million should be made from that fund to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. But those transfers were never made, and the special fund grew to more than $9 million.

Though some councilmembers expressed frustrations that the fund would now have to be used to pay Grimm, not making the payment would come at an even bigger loss.

Governor Glenn Youngkin first signed the bill granting Grimm his restitution back in March, and when it still hadn't been paid this July, he wrote a letter ordering Mayor Danny Avula to fulfill its obligation, or have its state funding withheld.

The ordinance will be formally discussed by the council Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.