Potential Tax on Internet Purchases

They can STOP with the misuse, mismanagement, misappropriating, misspending,waste and outright teefing of our tax dollars.

They need to go after people under declaring income for starters. Wage earners are subsidizing business owners who get cash payments.

And there is suspicion that many people who rent condos and villas are not declaring rental income.

Those are just 2 reasons people oppose new govt levies.

+1 on Pot legalization but most here would just grow it themselves
+1 on Cut expenses seriously

i agree with the expenses but will that really add up to the 100+ million shortfall?

agree again with them growing themselves

The VI doesn't have a revenue problem. The VI has a financial responsibility problem. If I handled my finances in the same manner I'd be living in the bush, wearing rags and dumpster diving for my daily bread

Has anyone read the USVI budget? It's pretty easy to figure out where the cuts should be

I was just going to post a link to the 2014 budget. http://www.caribbeanelections.com/eDocs/budget/vi_budget/vi_executive_budget_2014.pdf

the spread sheet at the bottom makes more sense the the report.

657 pages!??? Our "broadband" can't handle that!

Time for the Troika to come in and enforce austerity. Where are the Germans when you need them?

At the Ritz-Carlton St Thomas.

I have heard places like the USVI (and many other countries) referred to as "Kickcanistan" for their method of meeting their financial "requirements" by issuing bonds. They are simply delaying finding a solution by pushing the debt on to the next generation.

Do they think that a miracle is going to occur which solves all of their financial problems? And pays off the past debt?

One of the things that I noticed from the budget report is that the USVI has over 12,000 government employees, complete with benefits. A government employee for every 9 residents. Are you receiving your appropriate level of service?

Wyoming, which has 5 times our population, has half as many government employees.

I opened it on my iPad VI Broadband

Jane, I am not that interested in seeing the budget that I have to wait for 600+ pages. Whatever is in there is no surprise for long-term residents.

I just try to enjoy the squandering of the money. Go to government functions for free food and entertainment. Got nice Valentine's bag from VI Lottery. Nothing from Powerball! I go to library to use their broadband since the computer I'm using right now for some reason won't download Flash and I can't watch many videos. Same issue with my phone.

No matter where I've lived I try to get my money's worth from government services while still paying my fair share of taxes.

wether you read the budget or not, the government is spending $8,000.00 per year for every man woman and child on the island.

wether you read the budget or not, the government is spending $8,000.00 per year for every man woman and child on the island.

And your point is? I can't make them stop spending.

Ms411,

That's too bad, if you could figure out how to make a politician stop spending, you would be the most in demand person in america

I wonder how much those gift bags cost us?

sorry cruz,

The budget was too vague to break that cost out.. That's the first problem, lack of specific spending.

I guesstimate the bags cost approximately $10. They included a little stuffed teddy bear, a valentine box of chocolates, Martinelli's, a little pack of Hershey's candies, a can if Piroulines, a helium balloon, and a carnation. A full sheet of lottery tickets was $30 so the bag was 1/3 the value of the tickets. Don't know how many bags were given away vs how many tickets were sold.

and when was the last time usa had a balanced budget?

Or most other nations, either. I did a search once, and I think only 2 nations did not have deficits.

and when was the last time usa had a balanced budget?

That would be from 1998 to 2001. From https://www.cbo.gov/publication/45229 :

Cut expenses. Horse racing should not be a government activity. Graveyards should be private.Get rid of ALL the cars and cell phones. Look at every "administrative assistant" job and reduce. Reduce some more government holidays. Start with Holy Thursday and Easter Monday. And "administrative leave". Ticket speeders, jay walkers. Ticket safaris without proper lights and fenders...

Why is the government not seeking new revenue from VINGN fiber network?