Dec. 20, 2001 – Seemingly in hopes that the spirit of giving will carry over two days after Christmas, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced Wednesday that he is calling the Legislature into special session on Dec. 27 to consider three proposals:
– To authorize the issuance of revenue bonds and/or notes for various public and private capital projects.
– To approve a lump-sum budget for the operations of the executive branch for Fiscal Year 2002.
– To empower the chief executive to declare a state of economic emergency in the event of man-made catastrophes.
In his letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd calling the special session, Turnbull cited "the importance of these recommended bills to the economy of the territory and to the fiscal operation of the departments and agencies of the government."
The bonds bill was originally sent to the Senate on Nov. 27. Turnbull said the measure represents not only money "for large projects and public housing but also tens of millions of dollars to be circulated in the economy of the territory as a whole and St. Croix in particular." A Government House release said the measure must be passed by Dec. 31 "in order not to lose much-needed tax benefits or money for major projects such as the Louis E. Brown development on St. Croix."
The lump-sum budget bill also is being resubmitted. The governor said it is needed to give departments and agencies "the flexibility to manage resources so they can more effectively and efficiently serve the needs of our people in tight financial times."
He warned that in the latter part of the current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, departments and agencies "will find it difficult to respond to requests for services from residents due to the limitation of the government's financial resources."
The emergency declaration bill would expand the governor's emergency powers by authorizing the chief executive to declare a "state of economic emergency to counter any man-made catastrophes having a devastating [effect] on the economy."
