SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - The Mississippi state auditor is reviewing receipts submitted by Southaven Mayor Greg Davis. Davis has until Friday, December 2nd to repay the city $170,000 dollars of taxpayer money or account for where that money was spent.
Davis says he's given the state receipts totaling $53,000. There's still 117-thousand dollars on the line.
Mayor Davis doesn't expect to find any more receipts by the end of this week, but hopes that number will go down after he explains the charges to the auditor.
That $117,000 includes interest and fees for the investigation. The mayor says he'll pay back whatever the state claims he owes, and he tells abc24.com tax payers are even offering to help.
"They've taken a look around. They know where the investment's gone over the last two and a half years. There supposedly is a group of people that have begun collecting money," Davis tells abc24.com. I haven't seen it yet. We'll see, but either way we need to get this issue resolved and put behind us."
This Friday is the deadline given to Davis to account for $170,000. The state auditor should announce by then how much of that Davis owes.
"Once that's done then we'll pay back whatever needs to be paid back," the mayor says.
Davis maintains he's never misused city money, saying the cash in question was spent on courting new businesses to Southaven, city travel and business dinners.
As for a plan to repay whatever is owed, Davis says supporters have been contacting him offering to help.
"We'll see how much I have to come up with," he says. "From I'm hearing it's several thousands if not close to 100,000 that's already been collected just from local residents."
The mayor says he doesn't know who's contributing, but tells us it's added up. Taxpayers we talked with had mixed reactions on that.
"I wouldn't help him out whatever other people do I can't say but I wouldn't," says Kimmey Buchanan.
"If he's taken money he shouldn't have been using that belongs to the city, there's no way people should help him to pay that back," says Mary McClung. "Get him out of office as soon as possible."
Some find it difficult to believe the money wasn't misused, but are waiting for the state auditor to make a final ruling.
"I support him unless I'm given clear evidence that he did something wrong. I would give him the benefit of doubt on that," says Sue Payne.
"I think we need to wait and see if he's done wrong and repay," says Janie Harding. "I don't think a person should be rewarded for doing wrong. Again I hope somehow the outcome is positive for him, his family and the city."
The state auditor's office is reviewing the receipts now and will respond to the mayor by the end of this week. There is a chance he could still be facing criminal charges.
