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How They Spend Your Money
  1. Indio OKs revised credit card procedure

    Indio's credit card policy adopted six months ago has undergone revisions to hold employees more accountable and make the 13-page document easier to read and understand. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use.

    • Sep. 2, 2010
  2. City staff's credit card use drops markedly

    Credit card spending by Indio city employees dropped 80 percent in January compared to the same month a year ago. The decrease followed a Jan. 3 Desert Sun investigation that revealed charges in excess of $805,000 over a 22-month period. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use.

    • Mar. 9, 2010
  3. Draft policy tightens Indio's credit card rules

    Casual lunch between coworkers on the city dime and monthly credit card statements that exceed $5,000 will not be tolerated under a new credit card policy Indio city leaders are considering. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use

    • Feb. 26, 2010
  4. Gene Gilbert, Mayor of Indio talks with The Desert Sun on Monday January 4, 2010 in front of Indio City Hall. The Desert Sun file photo

    No $300,000 salary for new city manager

    Indio's next city manager will be paid “substantially less” than the $300,000-plus a year Glenn Southard — the highest-paid city manager in the valley — receives, said Mayor Gene Gilbert on Thursday. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use

    • Feb. 25, 2010
  5. Mark Wasserman

    Grand jury questions city spokesman

    A top Indio official is the latest to testify before the Riverside County grand jury on city matters. The city's public information officer, Mark Wasserman, said the grand jury interviewed him on Tuesday. Former longtime Councilman Mike Wilson has said he testified twice in January. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use

    • Feb. 24, 2010
  1. Glenn Southard The Desert Sun file

    Glenn Southard's vacation payout violates contract

    Indio City Manager Glenn Southard has cashed out more than $80,000 in vacation pay — part of it in violation of his contract — since he was hired in 2005. City officials on Tuesday, however, said Southard will not be asked to repay the extra money. Read The Desert Sun's report on the City of Indio's credit card use

    • Feb. 23, 2010
  2. Indio Mayor Gene Gilbert talks with a reporter from The Desert Sun on Monday in front of Indio City Hall in this file photo. Omar Ornelas,  The Desert Sun file photo

    Indio's credit card policy gets extensive overhaul

    Indio is revising its credit card policy to ensure it “brings accountability back to us,” the mayor said Monday. Mayor Gene Gilbert, in a meeting with The Desert Sun's editorial board, said he saw a draft of the new 14-page policy Monday morning. Read the full investigation

    • Jan. 25, 2010
  3. The  City of Indio City Council Chamber (left) and Administration Center January 1, 2010. Wade Byars, The Desert Sun

    Indio proposes early retirement plan

    Read the full investigation.

    • Jan. 7, 2010
  4. Fredi Hall of Indio addresses the City Council about the city's use of 62 credit cards during a special meeting on Wednesday. “I still think that many credit cards should be locked up and (only) used when necessary,” the former councilwoman said. Wade Byars, The Desert Sun

    Public questions Indio's credit card use

    Indio residents on Wednesday questioned the City Council about widespread staff use of credit cards, saying it opens up the system to abuse. Read the full investigation

    • Jan. 6, 2010
  5. Credit card use defended by Indio chief

    Indio's city manager on Tuesday defended the city's use of credit cards as fiscally prudent, even as officials review spending policies and begin reining in meal expenditures. • Read the full investigation. Glenn Southard's full response to 11 Desert Sun questions

    • Jan. 6, 2010
  6. City manager may be at front of line if golden handshake approved

    Indio City Manager Glenn Southard said “I may need to lay myself off” if a proposed early retirement deal currently under consideration by the City Council is offered to city employees.

    • Jan. 6, 2010
  7. Indio Mayor Gene Gilbert talks with a reporter from The Desert Sun on Monday in front of Indio City Hall. Omar Ornelas The Desert Sun

    Indio begins recalling staff-issued credit cards

    Indio city officials on Monday began pulling the majority of the 62 staff-issued credit cards and tightening oversight amid questions from council members and residents about City Hall's spending habits. Read the full investigation.

    • Jan. 5, 2010
  8. Indio Mayor Gene Gilbert talks with The Desert Sun on Monday January 4, 2010 in front of Indio City Hall. Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun

    Indio mayor: Credit cards being pulled today

    Indio city officials will pull the majority of the 62 credit cards issued to staff members and tighten its controls over spending, the mayor told The Desert Sun today.Read the original report and reader comments

    • Jan. 4, 2010
  9. Indio's credit card tab tops $805,000

    Facing a deficit and the threat of staff cuts, Indio city employees since January 2008 have charged more than $805,000 for pricey meals, travel that took staff members across the country, professional sporting events and a trip for the city manager's wife — all on taxpayer-funded credit cards.Inside: Examine some of the credit card statements yourself

    • Jan. 4, 2010
  10. City records show show Indio's Fantasy Springs Resort is a popular spot for purchases by Indio staffers. Among the bills was a $2,048.11 charge made on City Manager Glenn Southard's card. Wade Byars, The Desert Sun

    Experts: Widespread use of credit cards can open door for abuse

    City of Indio credit cards have been issued to employees at varying levels — from a front desk receptionist to key department heads, according to a Nov. 24 city-provided list of 62 cardholders.

    • Jan. 3, 2010
  11. 2006 audit: Review card policy

    Indio's use of taxpayer-funded credit cards has raised questions before.

    • Jan. 3, 2010
  12. Former Indio City Manager Tom Ramirez is seen in this 2004 file photo. Desert Sun file photo

    Former Indio city manager: Charges 'out of control'

    Credit card use among Indio employees hasn't always been as widespread as it is today, according to former City Manager Tom Ramirez.

    • Jan. 3, 2010
  13. Human Services director for Indio Dave Ison says, “I can assure you no one is buying anything for themselves on the city dime.” Xochitl Peña, The Desert Sun

    City administrator defends credit card use as 'way the world works'

    While Indio City Manager Glenn Southard has declined to answer questions regarding the city's use of credit cards by more than 60 employees, one city department director did.

    • Jan. 3, 2010
  14. Our mission: Keeping tabs on where taxpayers' money goes

    As questions go, it's a relatively simple one: How are public governments in the Coachella Valley spending taxpayers' money?

    • Jan. 2, 2010