A question raised over a Santa Clarita City Council disclosure form that left off a billboard donation was caused by a delay in an invoice, the candidate said Monday.

The disclosures reported to the city by City Council candidate Alan Ferdman noted a $400 donation for “Billboard signs.” A $400 “in-kind” donation declared by Alan Ferdman, from former City Council candidate Moazzem Chowdhury, included a billboard on Sierra Highway, with TimBen Boydston on one side and Ferdman on the other.

However, only Ferdman had the donation disclosed on the recently due financial disclosure forms. The most recent financial reporting period ended Sept. 24, with candidates’ donation summaries available online, and detailed reports available at Santa Clarita City Hall.

“I didn’t get notified in time what the amount of the billboard value was,” said Boydston, explaining why it wasn’t on his Form 460 disclosure.

Ferdman’s disclosure form notes the donation was received Aug. 18, 2016.

Boydston called the station after the publication of the story and updated the information available to indicate the cost of the donation was closer to $500, but the donation would be reported in the next disclosure.

Chowdhury confirmed Monday that he had given the billboards to the two candidates, but he was unsure of the exact date and amount of the contracts. Chowdhury, who operates several local pharmacies, said he had the space on the billboards until March, when the deadline for the billboards to come down citywide passes.

The billboard discussion in Santa Clarita was a lengthy and contentious one.

From a previous story: Santa Clarita Releases Billboard Ballot Measure For November

After months of public outreach by the city in support of the deal, and public outcry from residents opposed to the deal, the question facing registered voters at the polls Nov. 4, 2014, read:

“Shall Ordinance 14-02 adopting a development agreement with (Metro) for the removal of 62 advertising structures, within the city, by Metro or any other means, and construction and operation of three digital billboards, adjacent to the Interstate 5 and State Route 14 freeways, and the dedication to the city of revenue received from digital billboards, which creates an ongoing revenue stream, be adopted?”

The measure ultimately failed and, for the most part, billboards throughout city limits will be down by next spring (due to a deal approved by City Council ahead of the 2014 vote), and not being replaced by a few large digital ones alongside the freeways.

Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar was appointed to draft the argument in favor of the measure, which will appear on the ballot.

The ballot measure is the result of a referendum organized by voters, who were sponsored by a billboard lobbying group, the California State Outdoor Advertising Association.

Santa Clarita residents gathered more than more than 16,000 signatures in opposition to the city’s plan to put up three giant electronic billboards in Santa Clarita. Of those, 11,370 were deemed sufficient by Los Angeles County officials, which exceeded the 11,170-signature threshold.

The referendum gave the city three options: repeal the deal, take it down for reconsideration at least a year after the deal’s original approval or put it to a vote on a ballot.

City Councilman TimBen Boydston questioned the wording of the ballot measure itself, while Kellar noted it was accurate because it encompassed the total number of billboard removed, including a buyout ofEdwards Outdoor Advertising billboards.

Related: Santa Clarita, Edwards Outdoor Reach Tentative Deal To Remove Billboards

“It is true that with the subsequent deal that was made with (Edwards) by the city of Santa Clarita that the original information having to do with the removal of billboards on the Metro right of way is not exactly reflective of the original deal,” Kellar said. “However, the referendum dealt with the deal that was on the table before, and you can’t modify it.”

Boydston felt this was subterfuge by his fellow City Council members.

“It’s frustrating to me that the council was not willing to tell what the truth,” Boydston said, noting a buyout of Edwards Outdoor removed 20 of the 62 billboards on the Metro right of way. “During the discussion, I wanted very much to not be misleading people.”