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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesBOND BILL KILLED

BOND BILL KILLED

Despite threats by the administration of massive furloughs and layoffs, senators Friday night scuttled the governor's proposal to borrow $130 million.
The 14 voting senators were split down the middle, thus killing the bill that sought to commit gross receipts taxes to secure the bonds. The administration said the money was needed to cover payroll next month.
The $130 million was to have been realized from the issuance of bonds and was needed, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said, to provide immediate cash relief for the beleaguered Virgin Islands government.
The governor's adviser on financial affairs, Rudolph Krigger Sr., offered three plans being considered by the administration if the bill was not ratified:
– Plan A: Furlough 6,166 employees by Oct. 10.
– Plan B: Lay off 1,500 employees and retire 424 employees.
– Plan C: Lay off 2,500 employees.
Under questioning by Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Krigger explained that "furlough" meant employees would work 40 hours instead of 80 per two-week pay period.
Krigger at one point, in responding to Hansen's hammering, said that included teachers, doctors and police officers.
But later in the proceedings Krigger backed down, saying the governor had not signed off on the plans. Rather, his three options represented what could happen if the borrowing bill didn't pass.
The politics of the bond issue made for strange bedfellows.
Voting "yes" were Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Judy Gomez, Norman JnBaptiste, David Jones, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards.
The "no" votes came from Sens. Gregory Bennerson, Lorraine Berry, Adelbert M. "Bert" Bryan, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, V. Anne Golden, George Goodwin and Hansen.
Sen. Allie-Allison Petrus was absent.

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