Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Mapp Administration Releases $4 Million In Tax Refunds Thursday

Business / Government / News / Virgin Islands / May 25, 2017

ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp on Thursday announced that more than $4 million in tax refunds were mailed out this morning.

The release of additional refunds comes exactly one month after the governor announced the issuance of 1,954 refund checks on Thursday, April 25, which was the equivalent of $5 million. It also comes two weeks following the release of an additional 1,857 refund checks made available on May 11, which equated to $3.8 million, according to Government House. A release was not issued announcing the May 11 issuance of refund checks.

“We continue to make progress in getting all these refunds out and hope this will brighten a few more faces as we prepare to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice over this holiday weekend,” Mr. Mapp said, referring to the Memorial Day Weekend.

Today’s announcement was made amid unflattering press for the Mapp administration. This morning, The Consortium reported that the Bureau of Corrections was terminating employees because of the “continued financial crisis” at the central government, according to a letter B.O.C. wrote to an employee it had terminated. The bureaus’s director, Rick Mulgrav, told The Consortium late Wednesday that there would most likely be additional terminations following the three employees B.O.C. had made redundant.

The letter stood in stark contrast to Mr. Mapp’s portrayal of the government’s financial situation. During a recent press conference, Mr. Mapp said tax increases levied through his Revenue Enhancement and Economic Recovery Act of 2017 — which raised taxes on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco products, as well as hikes to property and timeshare unit taxes — had improved the government’s financial standing, and that there would be no need for furloughs, layoffs, shorter work weeks and shortened school days. He made those claims while reassuring residents earlier this month that the territory would not fall into darkness because the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority had reverted back to oil.

In praising Senate Democrats who supported the bill, Mr. Mapp said, “Because of their vote, we can solve this problem and assist the Water and Power Authority. Because they voted yes, no government worker is struggling in terms of working 80 hours per pay period. Because they voted yes, no school in this territory is being closed. Because they voted yes, we’re not only able to keep the lights on, keep the payroll intact, but are now releasing income tax refunds.”

The Bureau of Internal Revenue plans to begin disbursing 2016 tax refunds by mid-summer, according to Government House. Mr. Mapp said an announcement will be made as the date approaches when more refunds could be paid.

“We thank the community for their patience as we currently must manage our cash flow on a weekly basis,” said the territory’s leader. “And, once again, I thank the employees of B.I.R. and the Department of Finance for their efforts in getting these refunds processed.”

Taxpayers with questions about their tax returns or refunds may contact B.I.R. at (340) 715-1040.


Tags: ,



Staff Consortium




Previous Post

St. Croix Chef Ralph Motta Is Named USVI Culinary Ambassador By Dept. of Tourism

Next Post

Senate Democrats Join Chorus, Oppose Centennial Commission's Trip To Denmark





You might also like

Leave a Reply


More Story

St. Croix Chef Ralph Motta Is Named USVI Culinary Ambassador By Dept. of Tourism

ST. CROIX -- St. Croix chef Ralph Motta is the newest culinary ambassador for the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (D.O.T.). Mr....

May 25, 2017