EFTA00429868.pdf

From: ""Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr." > on behalf of "Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr." czi >II To:' Subject: Governor de Jongh Talks to News 2 About the Territory's Ongoing Financial Challenges Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:07:31 +0000 Having trouble viewing this email? Click here Vw My Fellow Virgin Islanders: On Monday, I was interviewed by News 2 on the state of the territory' s finances and the economic outlook through Fiscal Year 2012. In a diverse interview with News 2 News Director Netfa Romain, I spoke candidly about the issues facing our territory. I also talked about the effects of the global recession on our territory' s revenues and about the steps my administration has taken over the last two years to stave off termination of employees and pay cuts through borrowing at a time when all other states and territories of the United States either laid off workers, cut services and programs and closed schools. As many of you know, I have the obligation to balance the Territory' s budget. It is not a choice, it is a requirement. I also have the authority to dismiss workers if we cannot afford to pay everyone. I did not wish to send people home and neither did the Senators, and so they passed an 8% across the board pay cut in order to avoid dismissing workers and I approved the legislation. This pay cut will appear for the first time in today' s paycheck I want you to know that that the alternative was 6Do dismissals this year and 800 plus next year along with unpaid holidays. We all certainly understand that if we were to dismiss employees, that would have been a i00% pay cut for them and for their families. Watch the Governor's Interview on News 2 EFTA00429868 As I have said before, we can all agree that much work needs to be done in order to deal with the impending 2O12 budget issues. This hard work will lay the foundation for later years. I hope you will take a few moments to watch the News 2 interview. John P. de Jongh, Jr. Governor 6E' Forward email This email was sent to by Update Profile/Email Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe " Privacy Poky. Office of Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. I Government House 12142 Kongens Gade I St. Thomas, 100802 I Virgin Islands, U.S. EFTA00429869