Richmond City Council plans to vote next week on whether to sue Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and seek a judge's ruling on whether the council's budget or Wilder's is the one under which the city ought to operate.

Council president William J. Pantele said tonight that He expects Council will authorize a lawsuit when it votes on the matter at its meeting next Monday.

Wilder has said the council missed a key deadline, making its budget invalid. The council, backed by the city attorney, has said WIlder misunderstands two votes that relate to spending last year.