San Diego

The chancellor of the San Diego Community College District has asked the county counsel for a legal opinion on whether the district’s foundation did anything wrong in paying $33,000 to 16 state legislators to speak at various classes and forums last year.

The foundation, a separate entity set up in 1976 to create an endowment for the college district, came under criticism earlier this month after legislators filed required information about honorariums that showed the foundation payments.

Chancellor Garland P. Peed told a meeting of the Mesa College faculty Monday that he has asked the county counsel, which advises the district and foundation on legal matters, whether the foundation committed any impropriety in paying the money. Under its articles of incorporation, the foundation is prohibited from lobbying; some faculty members have alleged that the payments constitute such lobbying.

An opinion from the county counsel would not necessarily be binding on the foundation. Peed also declined to state whether the foundation, which he serves as chief executive officer, will make the opinion public.