Just one week ago, Neal was suspended from office, and the acting city treasurer was sworn in.

Last Friday, the clerk of courts swore in Jeffrey Shafer, but with Neal now having to forfeit her position, a new city treasurer will have to be elected, and the city will have to hold a special election.

Since the judge accepted Neal's guilty plea Friday, the Harrisonburg City Council has 15 days from the day of Neal's vacancy to petition the circuit court to issue a writ for a special election.

The election can be no earlier than 60-days from now and has to be held on a Tuesday. A special election costs between $7,000-$10,000 to program the voting machines, but if it's held on the same day as the general election in November, then no additional costs would be incurred.