SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - It started in November. Now mid-April, the investigation into Southaven Mayor Greg Davis is going strong. The state is looking at an additional $6,000 the mayor owes.
It's not nearly as much as the $150,000 plus Davis was ordered to repay in the fall, but considering Davis says he's not giving the state another dime, it's significant.
"We need to get this issue resolved and put it behind us," Mayor Davis said in November, about one week after state auditors demanded he repay taxpayers thousands.
"We'll pay back whatever needs to be paid back," he told abc24.com.
But now his tune has changed.
In March, Davis said he's not paying back another dime until he sits down with auditors. This week in response, the state is demanding money from a bond Southaven maintains for every politician.
"Which is basically an insurance policy," explained Alderman Ronnie Hale. "In November they put the bonding companies on notice."
Now that notice has turned into action.
Davis owes $63,000. He's paid $96,000 that was donated to him. The state will try to collect the remaining money from Davis' bonding company.
"We don't know yet what that's going to mean," Hale said, "I'm sure there will be some disagreements back and forth."
Hale said the amount Davis owes could go up too. The board of aldermen just reviewed additional receipts given to them by the state.
"There's some restaurant charges, different things like that and airfare. It's just shy of $6,000 that we weren't able to determine or justify to be city business."
That $6,000 could be added to Davis' total, but like the $63,000, how it's paid back remains to be seen.
