SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - $35,000 for a new car. Southaven Aldermen are deciding whether to get Mayor Greg Davis a city vehicle. So is it another perk of the job, or a better way to keep track of the mayor's questionable spending?
"The vehicle he's looking at is just a little under $35,000," says Alderman Ronnie Hale. "If it's something we're okay with, it looks like we'll vote on it tonight."
The board will decide whether giving Davis a city car will be cheaper than reimbursing him for miles.
"So it's either or, it's not neither?" asks resident Barbara Hale. "I think he's got enough money from us, that's my personal opinion."
"With the economy the way it is, they need to keep all the money they can, my view," says Sonny Mills.
"Why would they buy him another vehicle? I don't think they should," says Reginald Wilson.
But Alderman Hale says, "Right now Southaven is the only city that doesn't have a mayor's vehicle."
Davis drove one a few years ago, but switched to using his personal vehicle and being reimbursed for mileage.
"We could easily spend $2,500 or so in a month on mileage when he was traveling a lot," Hale says.
Davis is now being investigated for those payments.
"There's the potential of some additional money related to mileage that we're looking into," says auditor Stacey Pickering, possibly an extra $6,000.
Alderman believe giving the mayor a city car will eliminate those issues, but it could create new questions about rules for driving it.
"We are going to have some questions about personal use for it. We think it will remove some of the liability as well being a city vehicle we have more control over," Hale says.
"If it would eliminate that it would be fine, but I think he's milked Southaven for enough," says resident Barbara Hale. "They'll do what's right I'm sure, but as far as I'm going I don't think he needs anything because he's had enough."
Davis is still driving his personal vehicle for city business, but Alderman Hale says the mayor hasn't submitted any mileage reimbursements to the city in several months.
