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Friday, March 29, 2024
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Restoring a Little Fairness

Dear Source:

The details of the Port Authority's revenue woes did not mention their current and future plans to balance their budget on the back of St John residents. Imposition of the onerous tax when we use the barge and the pending tax on each ferry passenger is an unfair tax on the residents of St John. We are being singled out to bail out the Port Authority. We already pay more taxes than we get benefits (the government has been given eight years to dispute that and has not) and now we are responsible for keeping the Port Authority from going under. Come on!
I have a proposal to restore a little fairness to this mess. Charge the port tax on anyone who cannot present a valid St John driver's license. OK, there might not be enough other passengers to cover the deficit, so increase the tax. Tax the tourists (they expect to be gouged after having dealt with the taxis from the airport), tax the people who come over to St John to do business (there is a profit in it for them). But when we must travel to St Thomas so often for basic government services not provided by our generous tax dollars, it is an unfair burden to be forced to pay for the "privilege". How about that Port Authority? Let's restore fairness to St John. Bob O'Connor are you listening?.

John Fuller
St. John

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

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