(2) Not later than the 30th day after service of the petition, or within such further time as the court may allow, the county board shall transmit to the court the original or a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding under review; however, by stipulation of all parties to the review proceeding, the record may be shortened. Any party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record may be taxed by the court for the additional costs. The court may require or permit subsequent corrections or additions to the record when deemed desirable.

(3) If, before the date set for hearing, application is made to the court for leave to present additional evidence to the issues in the case, and it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were good and substantial reasons for failure to present it in the proceeding before the county board, the court may order that the additional evidence be taken before the county board on such conditions as the court deems proper. The county board may modify its findings and decision by reason of the additional evidence and, within a time to be fixed by the court, shall file with the reviewing court, to become a part of the record, the additional evidence, together with any modifications or new findings or decision, or its certificate that it elects to stand on its original findings and decision, as the case may be.

(4) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury as a suit in equity and shall be confined to the record, except that, in cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the county board, not shown in the record, testimony thereon may be taken in the court. The court, on request, shall hear oral argument and receive written briefs.

(5) The court may adopt the county board’s findings of fact and affirm the decision of the county board; or it may reverse and set aside the county board’s decision, or reverse and remand for further proceedings, after review of all the facts disclosed by the record, and any additional facts established under subsection (4) of this section. The court thereupon shall enter a judgment. In the case of reversal the court shall make special findings of fact based on evidence in the record and conclusions of law indicating clearly all respects in which the county board’s decision is erroneous.

(6) Any party to the proceedings before the circuit court may appeal from the judgment of that court to the Court of Appeals. Such appeal shall be taken in the manner provided by law for appeals from the circuit courts in suits in equity. [1969 c.495 §13; 1979 c.562 §10; 2003 c.576 §411]