Mississippi auditor tells Southaven mayor to pay up, or else | News

SOUTHAVEN, MS - (WMC-TV) – Southaven Mayor Greg Davis responded to being sued by the Mississippi State Auditor and word the state is stopping his paychecks. 

It was a surprise visit Tuesday night by the auditor. Nine months after he last addressed the Southaven Board of Aldermen to announce the money owed, the auditor tonight told Davis it's time to pay up, or else. 

With no notice, Mississippi state auditor Stacey Pickering made the trip north from Jackson to address the Board of Aldermen saying his patience with Mayor Greg Davis has run out. 

"At this point it's time to resolve this," Pickering said. 

Time Greg Davis pay the remaining 73 thousand dollars the auditor says he owes the city as part of the mayor's ongoing spending scandal, money he's said to have spent on booze, exorbitant tips, fancy meals, travel and at an adult store in Canada. 

Davis claims the money was spent for tourism. 

The State Auditor had a lot to say. 

"We filed suit yesterday in Hinds County Court," Pickering said. 

Along with the lawsuit, the auditor says Mississippi code allows his office to garnish the mayor's paychecks at this point forward until the balance is paid.  

"If the city does then whoever authorizes that paycheck and cuts it will be liable to the taxpayers of Southaven and to the State of Mississippi," Pickering said. 

Mayor Greg Davis only knew the auditor was at the meeting moments before it started.  

"He likes that surprise attack," Davis said. 

As for his paychecks being stopped, Davis has plans of his own.  

"There is a thing called TRO: Temporary Restraining Order," Davis said. "We will be filing that in the court where the lawsuit was filed and asking that he not be able to stop the paycheck." 

Davis maintains he doesn't owe the money and is eager for his day in court.  

"If there had been a good-faith effort we wouldn't have had to take the effort we've taken this week," Pickering said. 

Along with demanding the remaining money owed, the auditor personally handed the board a check for the $96,000  Davis has already paid. The mayor says he thinks it should have included interest, since he has to pay it on the money he owes. 

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