ELYRIA — City Auditor Ted Pileski is a little more generous than people think.

On Dec. 30, 2009, just two days before a 2.5 percent pay increase went into effect, Pileski wrote a check to the city for $3,255.77 to cover the bump in pay. It was the second such payment Pileski made in the year and brought his donation total to $4,551.

A computer inputting glitch caused Deputy Auditor John Farrell to miss the payment when he was asked earlier this week to provide information on all the voluntarily paybacks made to the city by Pileski, Mayor Bill Grace and Law Director Terry Shilling.

The salary of each of the city’s top elected officials is set by city ordinance in advance of each elected term and cannot be changed mid-term. The only way their pay can be decreased is if they voluntarily give it back.

Farrell provided the Chronicle with a much lower figure for Pileski — $1,295.

Pileski, who is on vacation, called Farrell after the inaccurate figure was published on the Internet and he saw it.
He may have received a pay increase this year, but has given it back to the city, Farrell said Thursday.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.