Receipts: Southaven mayor is big tipper on city’s tab

Published 11:44 am Monday, December 19, 2011

SOUTHAVEN (AP) — Receipts show Southaven Mayor Greg Davis often left generous tips when he was charging meals and drinks to the city.

The Mississippi auditor has demanded Davis repay more than $170,000 for personal expenses billed to taxpayers. The Commercial Appeal used a Freedom of Information request to obtain Davis’ receipts that the auditor gave Southaven officials.

The newspaper reports that Davis left a $100 tip for a $38 dinner of grilled fish and a martini this past June at Mesquite Chop House in Southaven. A month later, he bought a $37 round of beers at the restaurant and tipped $100.

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After a dinner for legislators and attorneys at Mint Restaurant in Ridgeland, Davis left a $1,000 tip on a $2,509 bill. That dinner included two bottles of Opus One wine for $415 each.

By this past Friday, Davis had repaid about $96,000. Southaven aldermen originally approved paying Davis’ expenses and now say they’re reviewing hundreds of pages of the documents to see whether some of the receipts were for legitimate city business. Aldermen expect to go into executive session Tuesday night to discuss Davis’ receipts.