Mississippi Demands City Repay Misspent Fire Insurance Funds

Former Sledge Mayor Bernard Handy, former City Clerk Mary Allen and current City Clerk Yvonne Amos have been issued demand letters for the repayment of illegally spent Fire Insurance Rebate Program funds.

Auditor Stacey Pickering and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney announced Tuesday that the funds totaled $21,977 and include interest and investigative costs.

Pickering says the money was to be spent on city fire protection programs but, instead, were illegally spent on general operating expenses of the city.

The Fire Insurance Rebate Program was created in 1951.