American Canyon, Calif., stopped payment of $36,465 in raises paid to seven firefighters based on questionable degrees from an unaccredited university. According to the Vallejo Times-Herald, a city investigation found the payments could be construed as improper gifts of public funds, and also called for the hiring of an independent investigator to further investigate the educational incentive program.

The district has 15 firefighters, seven of whom paid $499 for a degree from the unaccredited Almeda University. These degrees led to the raises and were based on firefighters' life experiences, which the city investigation determined did not benefit the public.

According to a law firm in Sacramento, these raises were valid when given, and therefore will not be paid back to the city. As of June 20, the educational incentive program has been eliminated.