The results of the V.I. Source's first territory-wide weekly poll are in, and the people have spoken – with much the same result as a referendum on the November ballot.
More than half of those responding in the poll thought the 24th Legislature's first order of business should be reducing the number of senators to nine from the current 15. Voters last year overwhelmingly approved a referendum to that effect.
That margin, 51.6 percent to be exact, may not seem like much, but consider that the total of 205 votes for reducing the Senate is 2-1/2 times that of respondents' No. 2 priority, overriding the veto of the tourism authority – an overwhelming disparity.
At the same time, significant numbers of those responding felt that the multimillion-dollar surplus in the federal unemployment insurance fund for the territory, recently uncovered in an audit by the V.I. Inspector General, should be the focus of legislative action. And 17.8 percent were clearly concerned about reviving the marine industry by lessening the burden of taxes and fees.
This is not intended to be a scientific poll. But as a rough gauge of how Source readers feel about issues confronting the territory, we think you will find the results interesting and worth considering – and will consider voting in this week's and future polls.
Poll Question: What should be the first order of business for the 24th Legislature?
1. Consider overriding Gov. Turnbull's veto of a tourism authority.
STT (60) STX (22) STJ (0); Total (82), 27.6 percent of all respondents
2. Urge the U.S. Congress to free the $49 million surplus in the V.I. unemployment insurance fund.
STT (41) STX (16) STJ (0); Total (57), 19.2 percent of all respondents
3. Enact legislation reducing the number of V.I. senators to nine.
STT (134) STX (67) STJ (4); Total (205), 51.6 percent of all respondents
4. Reduce taxes and fees on boaters and others in the marine industry.
STT (45) STX (4) STJ (4); Total (53), 17.8 percent of all respondents
