BELLFLOWER – The Bellflower Unified School District (BUSD) is taking corrective action on a payment made to an employee in June 2021, demanding the return of what it terms “unlawful compensation” amounting to $108,489.98. This effort to recoup funds reflects the district’s ongoing scrutiny and correction of past financial practices.
According to the letter received under a public records request, F3 Law is seeking reimbursement from Daniel Buffington after the District Governing Board approved a promotion for him that was due to be retroactive to March 13, 2021.
In 2021, Bellflower Unified reported 158 employees making more than $100,000 per year; the average salary was $68,396. Buffington was paid the highest reported salary for the school, earning $238,449.68.
According to the certified letter mailed to Buffington on Oct. 17, 2024, “On or about June 10, 2021, the District Governing Board approved you for promotion from the position of Manager, Maintenance and Operations to the position of Director of Facilities, Maintenance, Operations and Transportation (“Director FMOT”), to be effective (retroactively) to March 13, 2021.”
“You were never appointed to, and never served as Director of Maintenance and Operations, in a regular or interim position, or by provisional appointment. However, after your appointment to Director FMOT, you were unlawfully paid retroactively as if you had been serving as Director of Maintenance and Operations as far back as 2012, in the amount of $108,489.98.”
The firm described the unlawful payment being processed through the district’s payroll system, without Governing Board approval.
“Significantly, this payment would have been unlawful even if Board-approved. Article XVI Section 6 of the California Constitution prohibits the gift of public funds to any person, association or corporation, whether municipal or otherwise. A gift of public funds includes “all appropriations of public money for which there is no authority or enforceable claim.”
The district sought a response from Buffington within 10 days of the letter’s date.
Buffington is currently running for the Governing Board of BUSD of “fiscal responsibility” noting his 38 years of experience working for the district, including misrepresenting the positions he has held during his tenure.
“My institutional knowledge and experience spans from construction management to Director of Facilities, Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation. I have held various leadership positions in the California School Employees Association,” wrote Buffington in his candidate statement published on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office.
Buffington could not be reached for comment about the district’s demand for the overpayment’s return and why he is embellishing his credentials for votes.