Prime Minister Perry Christie presented his government's annual budget on Wednesday to the usual fanfare. Unfortunately it fell on a flat note.
Trumpeting the reduction in the deficit with cute graphics, he all but ignored the continual ballooning of the national debt. Growing some $1.6 Billion over the last four years.
Then with only 42.5% of the known properties paying property tax, owners that are up to date were told that when the tax base is broadened the rate will be lowered.
We’re also told that “a significant amount of businesses…(are) not meeting their legal obligations” with business license tax.
I'm sure this will motivate property tax and business license taxpayers. Why not wait until the government makes you pay at $0.50 on the dollar or better?
The proverbial elephant in the room is government spending and in spite of the ballooning debt there is no apparent concern that it should be restrained. Heck, no attempt is made to simply hold the line on spending. No, increases are the order of the day.
Mr. Christie’s attempt to make us believe all is well and headed in the right direction is simply misleading and may just confirm the sun is setting on the economic powerhouse of the region.
