The Department of Finance and Administration issued the following statement.
The Mississippi Department of Finance and
Administration (DFA) has received a check for $350,000 from the City of
Jackson, according to Executive Director Laura Jackson. The check is a
reimbursement of the Jackson Zoo bond funds that were
authorized by legislation for capital improvements but were
misappropriated by the Jackson Zoo leadership for recurring operating
expenses, in violation of two Memorandums of Understanding between DFA
and the Zoo.
“While we appreciate the action taken by the City
of Jackson to make this right, we are still expecting the Jackson Zoo
officials to provide us with a detailed accounting of all expenses paid
with state bond funds,” Jackson said.
The reimbursement is a direct result of DFA’s
letter dated August 9 requesting reimbursement of the misappropriated
funds. The funds had originally been provided to the zoo through the
issuance of general obligation bonds in 2015 and 2016.
3 comments:
This takes care of the misused bond funds from the latest bond bill - with the cost placed entirely on the few taxpaying citizens of the city of Jackson - but what about all the other bond bills promoted by the zoos lobbyist, Beth Clay? Since it is a known fact that the zoo didn't worry about the purpose of any particular funding, and they have received a million or so every year, let's get an audit of those funds to see how they were spent.
Jaxn Zoo better watch out, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Shad White. I saw him at the zoo petting the donkeys.
Free the bonds, by any means necessary!
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