THOMASVILLE — A letter from a Valdosta lawyer to the City of Thomasville’s legal counsel states Mayor Greg Hobbs has not received the correct monetary compensation in back pay.

The letter from J. Converse Bright to city attorney Tim Sanders states that Hobbs did not accept $13,804 in back pay in June and now requests that the city pay the mayor $43,180.

The mayor’s base pay — as provided by the city charter and ordinances — has been paid and is not a subject of dispute, according to the letter.

The letter states, “In addition to the base pay, the ordinance, when read with the respective state statute for per ordinances for legislators, provides a per diem of $173.00 per day for six meetings a month for a councilman and seven month meetings for mayor. The city, until June 2018, paid $105 per meeting instead of $173 per meeting. This leaves a shortage of $68.00 per diem.”

The letter states the “shortfall” for Hobbs as a council member and then as mayor is $43,180.

“I have no comment at this time,” Sanders said.

In June, Hobbs accused Kha McDonald, interim city manager, and Vicky Bryson, executive administrative assistant to the city manager, of forging his signature on a payroll document involving the $13,804 back-pay amount.

Hobbs reported the alleged forgeries to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney’s office. A GBI investigation is under way into Hobbs’ claims.

Meanwhile, McDonald and Bryson each are seeking $1 million in damages in conjunction in the accusations. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820