Donna M. Christensen, the Democratic candidate for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, presented her economic stimulus plan for the territory in a prime time address on Friday evening. Christensen, who has served as V.I. Delegate to Congress for the past 18 years and who has chosen former U.S. Interior Department official Basil Ottley Jr. as her running mate, presented plans for a short term stimulus and a long term economic recovery plan.
“I will deploy a series of initiatives that will immediately stimulate the economy, create and maintain jobs and provide desperately needed services to the residents of the Virgin Islands,”
Christensen said. “We have already contacted potential partners to lay the foundation for what will be a strong and early stimulus,” she said. The short term plan includes:
• Bringing relevant government agencies together to identify barriers that must be removed to streamline processes for business startups or expansion.
• Identify all projects that are approved, permitted and funded and put into operation to begin job creation.
• Evaluate financial management system through Interior to identify gaps and deficiencies for a fully integrated and comprehensive system that can speed up processes and increase accountability.
Christensen said that if necessary, she would declare a state of emergency to expedite the following:
• Reprogramming of $6 million for immediate repair of roads throughout the territory
• Reprogramming a minimum of $1million to clean up towns and residential neighborhoods territory-wide
• Utilize small contractors willing to hire unemployed youth to implement
• Provide tax credits to businesses willing to hire and train
• Augment energy assistance fund with $2 million to assist elderly and low income with energy bills
• Hire revenue officers to increase collection of currently owed taxes
• Establish working relationship with Legislators to implement stimulus
• Work with President Obama, federal agencies and Congress to identify and take
advantage of funding not being utilized
• Request reprogramming of funds so territory can apply to job creation, energy relief and repair of educational facilities
Christensen spoke specifically about the revitalization of the St. Croix economy. “In the aftershock of the Hovensa closing, too many businesses, large and small have closed…It is our job to reverse that trend and we will,” she said. “The Christensen-Ottley team will:
• Provide an immediate infusion of capital to the St. Croix economy to begin to create an environment of renewal that will encourage large and small investors
• Increase traffic to Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix so investors will develop new hotels
• Establish Rohlsen Airport as an FAA airline maintenance certification facility to take advantage of the reopening refinery and provide discounted fuels for airlines
• Develop St. Croix’s south shore as a transshipment facility
• Set aside 10 percent of all funding for revitalization of towns and other economically and physically distressed communities
• Work with next Delegate for enactment of National Heritage Area designation for St. Croix for $1 million per year funding for ten years to support growth of small local business, to advertise St. Croix and to support preservation of historic and cultural treasures
Christensen said that to facilitate and support initiatives all department and agency heads will be required to move with deliberate speed to streamline permitting process, ensure customer service and satisfaction. “We will invite investors to our shores and encourage them to participate in our attractive economic development commission program,” she said. “Basil and I have already been invited to participate in a public-private development conference in February where investors are paired with governments to make economic development matches that are beneficial to both parties,” Christensen said. She also said that they would:
• Pursue the establishment as a start-up and innovation center, utilizing the RT Park and the EDA benefit package
• Pursue EB5 investors, from foreign countries, who in exchange for a green card invest $500,000 or more into businesses to help grow the economy and create jobs
• Leverage all discretionary funds combined with interest from certain bond proceeds, along with interest income from government deposits to generate capital to drive Virgin Islands projects forward
• Initiate and guide territory through discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of being inside/outside the U.S. Customs zone
Christensen said that a Christensen-Ottley administration will be committed to providing government employees with wages that reflect the cost of living in the Virgin Islands. “We are committed to providing wages that reflect our cost of living – a living wage rather than just a minimum wage. We are committed to providing training and re-training so that our employees have the competent skill set to improve critical government services.” She said they would:
• Create economic activity aimed at generating capital to adequately fund education, public safety, health and other critical government services
• Commit to paying all government workers to include teachers, police, firefighters and nurses at a rate that reflects their professionalism and commitment
• Establish a new minimum government salary of $25,000 per annum
• Identify a reliable funding source to fully satisfy negotiated union contracts
Other initiatives crucial to revitalizing the economy of the Virgin Islands include:
• Implementing programs that focus on gathering and analyzing data that will help to improve governance and make government more responsible
• Identify a revenue source to address the billion dollar unfunded liability of the Government Employees Retirement System and honoring the commitment to current retirees and those close to retirement age by creating sustainable reforms that offer additional and alternative retirement savings vehicles for newer employees
Christensen said that her administration will not pursue new tax increases. “We will fully and promptly analyze and evaluate the possibility of rolling back taxes and giving the consumer more spending power,” she said. “It is our plan to expand the tax base by growing the economy, creating new jobs with wages that families can live on and to expand the tax base by creating an atmosphere where both the private and public thrive in a complimentary relationship of economic productivity and efficient delivery of services.”
Christensen said that her administration would also:
• Review the exploding property tax rates on St. John and do what is necessary to fix what appears to be an unfair burden placed on property owners, even consider a moratorium if necessary
“The Christensen Ottley administration will be inclusive and transparent,” she said. “We will seek input from the public so that stakeholders have a say in how government works.” She said they would:
• Invest in people with necessary training in areas of interest
• Refresh tax incentive programs that have been successful in stimulating the economy
• Establish a new category of incentives to assist local businesses become more competitive
• Utilize the Hotel Development Act that is already in place and use contacts to bring projects to get the economy moving
• Utilize the broadband build out as a platform for entrepreneurs to join the global economy
“We intend to hit the ground running with shovel ready projects,” Christensen said. “We can begin immediately and push them through to completion.”
• Utilizing FAA discretionary spending to upgrade King and Rohlsen airports
• Offer stakeholder status to several airlines and offer them incentives to bring passengers to St. Croix year round
• Prepare land adjacent to Rohlsen airport to accommodate private jets
• Retrofit Rohlsen airport for local businesses to operate from that facility
• Create incentives for King airport
“Basil and I know that the economy and education are inextricably linked,” said Christensen.
“While we must address student achievement, the facilities, financial management and teacher satisfaction across the education spectrum, we must revisit the Department of Education’s career and technical education programs to ensure that they are geared towards the preparation of our students, our future 21st century workforce.”
• Ensure every student that graduates is workforce ready
• Develop a marine education curriculum
• Increase collaboration between the University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Education
• Align Science Technology Engineering and Math programs from elementary school through college with increased education and training opportunities and availability of jobs from STEM focused businesses
• Work with the University of the Virgin Islands, banks and other institutions to increase education and training and access to capital to create a pathway to economic stability and financial stability
“In addition to the traditional areas of tourism, rum, energy and small business, a key component of our long term economic strategy will be the development of a science and technology plan. Around the world, and our country, science and technology now drive economic growth and shape public policy.”
• Develop a strong science and technology plan in order to compete in a global economy. The plan must include citizens, schools, businesses, educational institutions, governmental entities. It is critical to have STEM research, an educated and skilled workforce, an entrepreneurial business environment to compete and to improve our place in a global economy.
• A critical part of our science and technology plan will be to invest in green technologies that offer multipronged benefits to the community such as technology.
• Support the creation of an integrated resource plan with the right mix of traditional and renewable natural resources to create affordable, sustainable and resilient energy.
“Basil and I know that public safety is crucial to our community. We believe that providing a strong, educational path and creating attainable economic opportunity is key to creating a safer community. We have to restore safety and security for all segments of the Virgin Islands public.”
• Enhance the federal-local partnership in law enforcement
• Ensure that our police force have increased training that protects their lives and the entire community
• Maximize the use of technology to expand capabilities
Congresswoman Christensen pledged to work with the Virgin Islands Legislature and the next Delegate to Congress. “We may not always agree, but we will always maintain respect and decorum in our dealings with the First Branch of Government. I will work closely with the next Delegate to Congress.”
