Ben Porter, Chairman of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority, issued the following statement:

Statements contained in a news release issued yesterday by State Senator Jeff Chapman are false and are intentionally misleading.  Mr. Chapman’s news release grossly and deliberately misrepresented facts and implied impropriety regarding the financial reporting practices of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority. 

The Authority has not “withheld financial information from the public.”  There is no “unreported fund of eleven million dollars.”  No money received by the Authority has been “hidden from public view.”  All Authority financial information is reported on a regular basis and is a matter of public record.

Mr. Chapman’s repeated attempts to derail the revitalization of Jekyll Island have failed.  Now, he has resorted to false claims to further his effort.

The Senator’s claim of improper reporting of Jekyll visitation by the Authority is also false and misleading.  Mr. Chapman is well aware that conventions, hotel occupancy, golf courses, the Water Park and all visitation to Jekyll have declined in recent years.

Members of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority will provide additional information at hearings to be conducted by Senate and House legislative committees Thursday afternoon.

The Jekyll Island Authority will revitalize Jekyll Island, as directed by the Governor and The Georgia Legislature, for the benefit of nine million Georgians.

Tags: Jeff Chapman, jekyll island authority, jekyll island facts, jekyll island financial reporting
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