As the cost of living increases, representation decreases
As our government continues to display their bankruptcy of ideas, the people of the Virgin Islands continue to suffer. While the cost of a barrel of oil continues to skyrocket, our Government has proposed a tax increase to the tune of $10 million via an increase in property taxes. To add insult to injury, the Waste Management Authority (WMA) drops a bombshell in the form of their proposed rates for the Environmental User Fee (EUF).
If it hasn’t hit you yet, maybe this will help. Within the next year, we can expect oil to surpass $100/barrel, property tax bills covering a period of 2 years and Waste Management’s EUF. The increase in the cost of oil alone will translate into higher WAPA bills (power and water), an increase in the cost of traversing the roadways and an increase in the cost of imported goods, especially food, due to the expenses incurred by supermarkets in lighting their stores and refrigerating cold items.
To further compound matters, Waste Management’s EUF, which is basically a sales tax, sends the costs up further. Food and other imported goods will be subject to fees varying in range from $0.0004/lb for fuel products to $0.1210 for common items such as clothes, shoes, computers, office equipment, medical supplies and much more.
While this fiasco unfolds, we can’t help but wonder what position our elected officials hold on these matters. As with the repeal of Act 6905, they are extremely silent. What is the position of our Governor and Senators on these issues? Where is the alternate property tax plan promised by the Administration back in early October? Where is WAPA’s sense of urgency when it comes to reducing line losses and other plant inefficiencies that burden the ratepayers? Where is the sense of urgency from our elected officials as elders in our community preempt purchasing medicine to eat and pay their WAPA bills? Where are they as small businesses continue to shut their doors? Where are they as the cost of food continues to rise due to all the taxes they continue to impose on us? Where are they as their constituents continue to cry out for relief?
To summarize it in one question; just how much do they expect us to absorb?
I am a professional by trade and intended to move my family and six figures in salary to your island. I am astounded by the lack of empathy the government shows for its own people and the well being overall. I also had three other professionals interested as well but after close researching of prices and availability we have all decieded to go elsewhere. Its a shame really, they lost close to half a million in taxable wages and some great help professionally for the island! I am sure that we are not the only ones that have changed course after seeing the truth.