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From: Member of the public
105, not 55
By forcing us to pay double tax, the Government of Jersey will be negligent in it's duty of care to 55,000 islanders' mental and financial well being.
It's not ok to force a debt upon us.
It's not ok that people currently living pay cheque to pay cheque could be forced to use food banks.
It's not ok that thousands of people could decide to quit their jobs and go on to welfare to avoid the extra tax burden.
It's not ok that money worries and the ensuing arguments could lead to the breakdown of family units.
It's not ok that you could be causing a debt spiral that leads to homelessness.
It's not ok that you will be negatively affecting the mental well being of thousands of people, including children due to the stress on their parents.
It's not ok that paying off this debt could cause people to miss funerals of loved ones off island because they can't afford a plane ticket.
It IS ok to give every islander £100 to spend locally, but it's not ok to force only 55,000 of us to pay it back.
It's not ok that this could lead to an increase in crime as people search for extra money to pay off their debt.
It's not ok that this added stress could force more people down the road to alcoholism and drug addiction.
It's not ok that this added debt could lead to a complete mental breakdown and potentially suicide.
Allowing us to pay the debt off over 10 years might reduce the amount of each payment, but it also increases the length of time that we have a debt hanging over our heads.
Allowing us to pay the debt in the year after we retire however, which is similar to what we would have been doing anyway with Prior Year Basis tax, means we would not be paying extra tax in any working year. This way we all move to the Current Year Basis tax, and 55,000 people are not forced into debt.
It's completely understandable that the Government will need to recoup the money spent during the pandemic, but there are over 105,000 people living in Jersey, so why are just 55,000 of us being forced to shoulder the burden?
All of us need to help pay back the debt, not just a select few. 105, not 55