Bryan announces tax refunds, doubles down on line of credit

ST. CROIX — Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced a plan to pay out $27 million in income tax refunds over the next 30 days during a Government House briefing on Monday, leaving approximately $48 million left to be refunded.

The announcement came after Bryan spent nearly eight minutes responding to what he called “inaccuracies” in a press release issued last week by Senate Majority Kenneth Gittens, who expressed reservations over Bryan’s request for a $50 million line of credit to cover government expenses while the territory contends with a structural deficit.

“First, let’s set the record straight — the Legislature does not fund the Government of the Virgin Islands,” he said before repeating the statement for effect. “The revenue we generate through taxes, fees and other means collected by the Executive Branch is what funds the Government of the Virgin Islands.”

The Legislature’s role, Bryan said, is to authorize how the money is spent. “Misleading the public by suggesting otherwise doesn’t help to solve our challenges and undermines the hard work the administration is doing every day to meet the needs of the people of the Virgin Islands,” he said.