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Bell City Clerk Admits To Lying About Salaries

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The clerk for the scandal-ridden city of Bell says she provided false information to a resident of the Los Angeles suburb who had filed a public records request demanding to know what the city manager and City Council members were paid.

 Bell City Clerk Rebecca Valdez testified Thursday that she reported every City Council member was paid $673 a month when she knew they were paid more than 10 times that much.

Valdez says Bell's disgraced former city manager, Robert Rizzo, came up with the false figures and ordered to her to provide them. She says he also falsified his own salary.

Valdez is testifying at a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for six current and former City Council members to stand trial on fraud charges.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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