In a statement released Thursday night from Government House, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said he had submitted a bill to the 23rd Legislature that would "increase the amount of debt that can be incurred and paid by departments and agencies for previous years." The bill also calls for appropriating $1.5 million to repair Finance Department buildings and acquire property on St. Thomas for a cemetery, and would set up a Disaster Recovery Revolving Fund.
The exact meaning of the first part of the bill was unclear Thursday, and government officials could not be reached for further comment. The statement says the bill would amend the V.I. Code "to allow departments and agencies to pay their prior year obligations up to a maximum of $100,000."
The disaster fund would be set up as a special fund with the V.I. treasury and would be administered by the Finance commissioner for "recovery efforts during a declared disaster or other natural emergency." It was proposed as part of the Territorial Disaster Preparedness Plan.
