UPDATE (June 14, 10:00 p.m.)

During Harrisonburg's City Council meeting Tuesday night, one man expressed his anger and confusion over Mayor Christopher Jones actions of owing $58,000 in back taxes.

'Kind of surprised me. Somebody goes back three years not paying their taxes, they're trying to manage the city finances, if they can't manage their own finances," said Bucky Berry. "I think it's a disgrace to the City of Harrisonburg, city staff. Best thing the mayor can do is resign and count his losses."

After Mayor Jones announced he was stepping down from the City's Finance Committee, he also had words to the community.

"I just wanted to acknowledge that in this forum instead of having that type of thing played out in just the media, and I look forward to following up and discussing that further next month, at next month's council meeting," said Mayor Jones.

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UPDATE (June 14)

During Harrisonburg's City Council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Christopher Jones voluntarily stepped down from his position on the city's finance committee.

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ORIGINAL STORY

Harrisonburg's Mayor Christopher Jones admitted to WHSV he owes more than $58,000 in back taxes stemming from 2011.

Court documents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), show the agency filed a federal tax lien against him in Rockingham County Circuit Court last month.

His current total balance is $58,391.85. The document shows three tax periods with unpaid balances from 2011-2013. The lien also states the IRS has made a demand for payment of this liability, but it remains unpaid.

Mayor Jones is an account executive at WHSV. Harrisonburg City Council members unanimously appointed him as mayor in January 2015. He also serves on council's finance committee.

Today, Mayor Jones spoke with WHSV.

"I made a mistake, and I literally have to pay for my mistake, and that's something that happens in life," said Jones. "If someone chooses to judge me as a person with bad character, that would be disappointing, because I don't think I'm a person with bad character. I think I'm a person that made a mistake."

Mayor Jones claimed his taxes were not filed properly and that he hired an accountant a year ago to help him fix his account with the IRS. He would not comment on what precise mistake he made in filing.

When asked if there's any conflict with owing back taxes while serving on the finance committee, Jones responded that he does not see a conflict. He said he does not owe the city or its citizens any money. He says, since this is a personal debt, its separated from his capacity as a committeeman.

To the question of why he did not tell the people of Harrisonburg about his debt, he responded with "It just didn't come up."

Later he clarified that he released everything that he was legally obligated to release when he became a council member.

When asked why it's taken so long to rectify this problem Jones said he didn't know about it until recently. He pointed to working with an accountant as of a year ago.

"I greatly apologize if anyone is disappointed in me owing the IRS. I hope that they understand that I've been forthright and honest with them," said Jones. "It's not something I'm hiding from."

Jones said he will release more information about his debt as he works with his accountant.

The IRS sent us a document detailing how cases like this get started. Find that document in the related documents section of this story.

City spokesperson, Mary-Hope Vass sent a statement to WHSV saying "This is a personal matter, and the city has no further comment at this time."

Find the court documents in the related documents section of this story.