The Office of the Lieutenant Governor held the first of two sessions to welcome employees soon to be transferred from the Department of Finance on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 on the island of St. Croix.  The orientation to welcome the St. Thomas/St. John district employees was held on April 3.  The transfer of the employees was authorized through the passage of Act. Number 6976.  According to Raymond Williams, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the legislation was intended to associate collections with assessments.  The merging of the two areas is expected to lead to better accountability and transparency as the government moves forward with its objective to collect property taxes.  

Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis attended the session to personally welcome employees.   “You are expected to play a key role in the collection of delinquent property taxes,” Francis said.  The addition of the employees to the staff comes at a time when the Office of the Tax Assessor is preparing to issue 2006 property tax bills and launch an aggressive campaign to collect current and delinquent property taxes.   Francis encouraged the employees to feel empowered to make recommendations for more efficient collection practices and work towards being a cohesive unit with the existing staff.  

The orientation session provided the employees an opportunity to address questions pertaining to employment status, work space, training and other issues.  Chief of Staff Raymond Williams, Chief Operating Officer Delbert Hewitt and Tax Assessor Roy Martin were on hand to address the affected employees concerns.  Finance Commissioner Claudette Anderson also attended the orientation.  In remarks to the employees, she called the transfer a “move to better information, efficiency and customer service.”  

Williams expects that the transition to the Office of the Lt. Governor from the Department of Finance will be complete by late April or early May 2008.  The affected employees, totaling 24 in both districts, will continue to duties in revenue collection, processing, and enforcement upon joining the Lt. Governor’s Office.