§11-8-30. Recovery of unlawful expenditure from participating official by action; costs.

A person who in his official capacity negligently participates in an illegal expenditure may be proceeded against for the recovery of the amount illegally expended. The political subdivision concerned, a taxpayer of the subdivision, the State Tax Commissioner or a person prejudiced may bring the proceeding.

All moneys recovered in these proceedings shall be paid into the treasury of the proper fiscal body and credited to the proper fund. Recovery in these proceedings shall, in all cases, include the principal and interest on the principal at a reasonable rate of interest as set by the court in the judgment order and may include, in the discretion of the court, a penalty of not more than twenty-five percent of the aggregate amount of the judgment and interest.

If the plaintiff prevail, he shall recover against the defendant, the costs of the proceedings, including a reasonable attorney's fee to be fixed by the trial court and included in the taxation of costs.