Dear Source:
I first would like to take time to tell The Source it is an extremely well-rounded information Web site for those of us who like to stay in touch with news and information in the V.I. I look forward to future stories and information on your Web site which I check daily. We spend a good amount of time in the V.I.
On the issue of how a tax cut for every single taxpayer now paying taxes would directly help and affect Virgin Islands residents, I believe the biggest advantage and benefit was not directly addressed.
Even if it may seem obvious to a few, many do not see the increasing opportunity in the V.I. if the tax cut is passed in Congress. The V.I. needs to work expeditiously to find ways to get that money back out of the wallets and into cash registers in the V.I. This would be even better for all taxpayers than the simple tax rate reduction. It's a huge bonus if a little more work is done to draw taxpayers down.
I do believe that this is a problem which the V.I. government is reluctant to do anything about and should be challenged. I would have to say over the past five years of traveling to your (our) beautiful Virgin Islands I have not seen or heard an ad to draw travelers (taxpayers) to the V.I. For example: "Getting a tax refund? Reward yourself and come to the Virgin Islands!"
Oh yeah, almost forgot to tell you: Small print needs to be added to the bottom of the ad that says "Please excuse our new 10 percent room tax!"
Sean O'Connor
Cincinnati, Ohio
