<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Crucians In Focus &#187; Fiscal Management</title>
	<atom:link href="http://cruciansinfocus.com/category/fiscal-management/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com</link>
	<description>&#34;We knew the job was dangerous when we took it.&#34;</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:59:58 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Italian Government Official Questions Value, Expenses Of Sen. W. James &#8220;Twin Cities&#8221; Deal</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/09/07/italian-government-official-questions-value-expenses-of-sen-w-james-twin-cities-deal/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/09/07/italian-government-official-questions-value-expenses-of-sen-w-james-twin-cities-deal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:34:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Election 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=7893</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Editor&#8217;s Note: It appears we are not the only ones who strongly oppose, and question the value of, Sen. Wayne James’ use of taxpayer money and the “Twin Cities” agreement with Montescudaio, Italy. Now comes information, directly from Italy that $13,500 of the $16k in expenses he submitted for his most recent journey appear to be for expenses that were already paid for the entire Virgin Islands delegation by the Italian Government. Were these expenses submitted appropriately by the Senator? If there is an explanation, we invite the Senator to submit it. CIF was contacted directly by a member of the Montescudaio City Council, Fabio Tinelli Roncalli, with documentation showing that the expenses were paid by his city and questioning the value of the entire arrangement, including the $50,000 the Legislature approved to support the Montescudaio soccer team, and making it very clear that there are serious questions about this deal on both sides of the ocean. The communication we received is reprinted below exactly as we received it.  In addition, CIF has obtained a new tax lien for unpaid taxes, in the amount of $36,599.99 filed against James on April 16, 2010. This is in addition to a previous lien for $145,020 filed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/09/07/italian-government-official-questions-value-expenses-of-sen-w-james-twin-cities-deal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>49</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Note To Sen. Nelson &#8211; The &#8220;Men In Black&#8221; Were The Good Guys!</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:02:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[deJongh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Election 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=7007</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Was she there to defend the budget proposal or the Governor? In a singsong presentation on the proposed FY2011 budget for the Office of the Governor, presenter Nellie C. Varlack was in turn petulant, proprietary and protective of her boss, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. And the tone and content of her presentation caused one senator to invoke the image of the &#8220;Men In Black&#8221; to describe the actions of this Administration. Varlack, whose title is Director of Business and Administration, appeared Thursday in front of the Committee for Appropriations and Budget. The topic was supposed to be the $10.3 million budget request to operate the Office of the Governor, the Bureau of Economic Research and the Energy Office. But it quickly became apparent that this was as much about the Governor as it was about the budget. And some of her comments caused us, and some of the Senators who questioned her, to alternately smirk and ultimately wonder whether this was a comedy routine or a campaign infomercial. After four years of increasingly obvious fiscal mismanagement, Varlack told the committee what the Governor is requesting for his new budget. 11 budget varlack lump sum budget One of the items [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>52</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_varlack_lump_sum_budget.mp3" length="307617" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_vaelack_pomp_and_circumstance_short.mp3" length="81545" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_nellie_travel_nothing_political.mp3" length="509073" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_nellie_office_equip_for_politics.mp3" length="244549" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_nelson_pomp_short.mp3" length="199365" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_nelson_men_in_black.mp3" length="636550" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11_budget_nelson_pampered.mp3" length="199827" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Now Back To The Budget</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/06/now-back-to-the-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/06/now-back-to-the-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:34:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=6499</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now that the holiday weekend is over it’s time to turn attention back to the financial business of the FY 2011 budget now under discussion in the Legislature. The budget, submitted by Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. on June 11, forecasts a total budget of $1.2 billion, with $781.9 million coming from the General Fund.  The FY 2010 General Fund projection was $854.4 million. The budget assumes at 13% increase in contributions from personal income taxes; a 7% increase in gross receipts taxes; and a 3% increase in corporate income taxes. The fund estimate also includes amounts to be collected from the issuance of 2006 and 2007 property tax bills and income from internal and external borrowing. Some $100 million of the most recent borrowing appropriation was designated to address a portion of the estimated $170 million shortfall in the FY 2011 budget. Budget hearings continue this week and next (calendar attached) with agency heads coming forward to discuss their needs for the new budget year and their plans to manage with diminished funds. Before the hearings proceed further, it is important to revisit those issues that were so prevalent when the most recent borrowing was being debated. Here are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/06/now-back-to-the-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Juan Luis &#8220;Contingency&#8221; Plan Lists 54 Positions Slated For Termination If Borrowing Was Not Approved</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/23/juan-luis-contingency-plan-lists-54-positions-slated-for-termination-if-borrowing-was-not-approved/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/23/juan-luis-contingency-plan-lists-54-positions-slated-for-termination-if-borrowing-was-not-approved/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 01:26:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The list of those slated for termination from the Juan F. Luis Hospital in the Administration’s “contingency plan” included 54 positions calculated to meet the 25% budget reduction threatened in the event the most recent borrowing plan was not approved. A list of those employees who were targeted, attached here, shows 20 nursing services positions; 10 professional and auxiliary services; a total of 20 from financial, support and administration services; 2 from medical services; and 2 from risk management. In a letter dated March 18, 2010, from Interim Chief Executive Officer Darice Plaskett to Director of Office of Management and Budget Debra Gottlieb, the cuts were expected to result in a total costs sabvings of 2.6 million in salaries and slightly over 600,000 in fringe benefits. The letter further outlines services that would be reduced or eliminated as a result of the cuts, and concludes by requesting that the hospital be exempted from the then proposed budget reduction plan. The Legislature approved the $500 million additional borrowing package on May 4 by a vote of 8-7. The additional funding is expected to shore up the remainder of the FY 2010 budget and also fund already anticipated shortfalls in the FY [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/23/juan-luis-contingency-plan-lists-54-positions-slated-for-termination-if-borrowing-was-not-approved/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>27</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ranting And Raving From Government House As Governor&#8217;s Tantrum at 8-7 Vote Continues</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/12/ranting-and-raving-from-government-house-as-governors-tantrum-at-8-7-vote-continues/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/12/ranting-and-raving-from-government-house-as-governors-tantrum-at-8-7-vote-continues/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2010 15:24:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5622</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The temper tantrum continued from Government House on Monday when Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. used a “press conference” to bash those senators who voted against the latest borrowing bill last week. On a day when most expected to hear strong language about the “Mother’s Day Massacre” weekend, the community was once again subjected to rambling rhetoric and reactionary ravings aimed at those who dared to challenge his Administration’s real commitment to cost – cutting in the quest to address the Territory’s “fiscal crisis.” (Before we continue, can we please stop calling these staged events “press conferences”? These performances, where questions are clearly planted with specific “media” representatives to provide openings for the Governor’s pontification, should cause any true journalist worth his/her salt to cringe in shame. There wasn’t a challenge or tough question from the bunch – but we digress) His repeated attempts to demonize those who dared ask for specific financial information before voting on a measure that plunges the VI even deeper into debt, and his subsequent comments, only served to bring to light even more flaws in the “borrow and spend” mentality pushing the Territory ever closer to the brink of real bankruptcy. gov seven who [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/12/ranting-and-raving-from-government-house-as-governors-tantrum-at-8-7-vote-continues/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>104</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gov_seven_who_voted_no.mp3" length="159285" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gov_cover_over.mp3" length="571349" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gov_not_collected_property_taxes.mp3" length="148418" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gov_we_will_never_sell_your_property.mp3" length="302183" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sanes &#8220;Feels&#8221; Public Frustration; Assaulted Saturday During Public Appearance</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 12:34:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Saturday night the rage boiled over and Sen. Sammuel Sanes found himself on the fist end of the frustration being felt by Virgin Islanders after the Legislature’s 8-7 approval of $500 million in borrowing last week. During an event at the Chicken Shack, Sanes was punched in the eye by someone in attendance while explaining his vote for the borrowing measure. At this writing, a police report has been filed but no arrest has been made. For the record, Crucians In Focus does not in any way condone violent responses to political (or any other types of) differences. But this incident should be a strong indicator to those in the public arena that tensions have reached a dangerous level and they should take heed. For weeks – no, for months &#8211; voices on the radio, this website, and others, have been warning that public tolerance had ended for the type of blatant corruption and financial recklessness that is becoming commonplace in this Administration. Their warnings have been dismissed as agitation, anti-Government politicizing and recently, characterized by the Delegate as similar to the “tea party” agitators in the States. Meanwhile, the Government continues to borrow money we see no ability to repay [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>41</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Letter To The &#8220;Infamous Eight&#8221; From The People of the Virgin Islands</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/letter-to-the-infamous-eight-from-the-people-of-the-virgin-islands/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/letter-to-the-infamous-eight-from-the-people-of-the-virgin-islands/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 22:37:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5516</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To the eight of you who voted yes: Why didn’t you just bring the checkbook and hand it over? That’s what you did last night. You let a stacked deck of whining government agency talking heads and high priced lackeys come to you with nothing more than obstinacy and arrogance. You allowed Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., to bully you with dire predictions of employee layoffs and an 11th hour combative media blitz.  And you gave them another $250 million to do with what they will. Here’s how it went. We can’t cut. We won’t cut. If you make us cut, we’ll lay everybody else off. We’re not going to explain what we did with the last money, but we want more money. You can&#8217;t tell us what to do with the new money. And we’re absolutely not going to consider cutting our salaries. There were no concrete responses to questions about cost cutting measures or results; no solid contingency plans created in the event that the loan was denied; and no indication that they would lead any cost reduction initiatives by example. And you still gave them the money? We listened in frustrated disbelief to the babbling, often apologetic (to the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/letter-to-the-infamous-eight-from-the-people-of-the-virgin-islands/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>88</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/borrowing_usie_was_there_any_discussion.mp3" length="414196" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/borrowing_nellie_are_you_willing_no.mp3" length="582216" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/borrowing_hearing_nelson_what_next.mp3" length="589739" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/borrowing_roll_call_vote.mp3" length="1213334" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Senate Passes Borrowing Bill 8-7</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/senate-passes-borrowing-bill-8-7/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/senate-passes-borrowing-bill-8-7/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 11:40:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5506</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the early morning hours on Wednesday, the Senate voted 8-7 to grant the Administration the authority to borrow another $250 million to operate the Virgin Islands government. Voting in favor of the bill were Sens. Carlton &#8220;Ital&#8221; Dowe, Louis P. Hill, Wayne James, Sammuel Sanes, Patrick Simeon Sprauve, Michael Thurland, Celestino A. White Sr. and Alvin Williams. Voting against the bill were Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Adlah &#8220;Foncie&#8221; Donastorg, Neville James, Shawn-Michael Malone, Terrence &#8220;Positive&#8221; Nelson, Nereida Rivera-O&#8217;Reilly, and Usie R. Richards. The marathon session, which ended after 2 a.m. Wednesday, included testimony from several government agencies and the Administration’s financial team. The action actually extends the Governments borrowing authority to $500 million with the funds to be used to offset an estimated $170 deficit in the FY 2010 budget, $100 million to begin to offset the estimated $276 million anticipated deficit in the FY 2011 budget, and the refinanancing of the $250 million borrowed last May. More to come on this story. Share on Facebook]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/05/senate-passes-borrowing-bill-8-7/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>86</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is Sen. Barshinger The &#8220;Swing Vote&#8221; In Borrowing Decision?</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/is-sen-barshinger-the-swing-vote-in-borrowing-decision/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/is-sen-barshinger-the-swing-vote-in-borrowing-decision/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 17:38:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5494</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So is Sen. Craig Barshinger the “swing vote” in today’s determination of an additional half-billion in borrowing that has been requested by the Administration? Apparently the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce thinks so. As Sen. Neville James stated during this afternoon’s hearing, and as CIF is confirming with a copy of the email below, the Chamber is asking its members to call the Senator-at-Large and urge him to vote “yes” on the spending. What we want to know is who &#8220;advised&#8221; them? We’ll see how effective the campaign is when the vote is taken.  Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 11:17:06 -0400 Subject: Contact Senator Barshinger&#8217;s Office If Your Support Bond Bill From: michael.dembeck@gmail.com To: michael.dembeck@gmail.com May 4, 2010 Good Morning, Chamber Members: We have been advised that Senator Craig Barshinger will be the swing vote in the Senate today on the bond bill to maintain government services and stablity and to avoid layoffs of government employees and curtailment of government services. Without passage of this bond bill, consumer spending by government employees and the level of revenue flowing through our private sector economy as a result of the &#8220;trickle down&#8221; effect will negatively impact all segments of the St. Croix [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/is-sen-barshinger-the-swing-vote-in-borrowing-decision/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>50</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Senate Ponders Borrowing Bill</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 16:22:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5487</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As of this writing, the Senate is listening to testimony from Government agencies on how at 25% cut in funding would affect their operations. Sen. President Louis Hill stated early in the session that all government agencies had been notified that should the Governor&#8217;s latest request to borrow $500 million be rejected that budget cuts would be eminent. Representatives from the University of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Superior Court, the Juan F. Luis Hospital and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority have testified so far. We will continue to update as the session develops. Share on Facebook]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>31</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

