City of Adelanto 2016 Accounting Error Leaves Three Council Members Owing City

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ADELANTO – An erroneous overpayment by the former City of Adelanto executive staff left three city council members owing money to the city officials said.

According to City of Adelanto officials, on June 29, 2016, the city adopted a budget that included a line item to increase the compensation to City Councilmembers. This increased the compensation from $506 per month to $600 per month. The error caused an overpayment of $94 per month. The amount paid was consistent with the budget but had not yet been adopted by the City Council. City council members received the increase without the knowledge that the proper process had not been followed by the city.

The City staff discovered the error in August of 2018. “When staff discovered the error they immediately brought it to the attention of the City Council”, said Mayor Richard Kerr. Because this money was improperly paid, the City requested of each member that all improperly paid monies be returned as soon as practical.

Although the majority of the City Council Members did not retain the compensation received by the City during this time and instead donated the compensation to a charitable cause affiliated with the City. As a result, three City Council members currently owe the City money: Ed Camargo, John Woodard, Jr., and Joy Jeannette. Each of the affected City Council members have agreed to return this money.