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Legislature questions Lieutenant Governor office staffing, appraisal shortfall and collections
Summary
Senators pressed the Office of the Lieutenant Governor about 91 general‑fund positions (10 vacant), a shortage of real property appraisers that limits assessments, and steps to increase revenue collection and fill vacancies.
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance questioned leaders from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor about staffing shortfalls, property‑assessment coverage and slow use of appropriated funds during a July 23 budget hearing.
Senators were told the lieutenant governor’s general‑fund budget supports 91 positions, of which 10 were vacant. A major focus of questioning was the Real Property Tax Division’s appraisal staff: officials said 883 properties had been inspected recently while the territory’s parcel inventory exceeds 60,000, and that the office is short‑staffed.
“Right now in St. Croix there are five appraisers. We only have three in St. Thomas,” Tax Assessor Lawrence A. Romney told the committee. Romney said the office needs roughly 20 appraisers to complete mass appraisal work and to improve assessment…
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