12 + REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

While the housing shortage made it virtually impossible to relocate
tenants occupying undesirable areas, nevertheless 55 applications were
processed, 40 of which received loans totalling $48,516 for the con-
struction of proper sanitary facilities.
 During the year the Government Secretary's Office was relieved of
the program for construction of urgently needed emergency housing
as this responsibility was coordinated with the office of special assist-
ant to the Governor in charge of housing.


Office of the Tax Assessor

 The real estate property tax reassessment project conducted by a
private management consultant firm established an up-to-date system
of real property evaluation and taxation. Act No. 834 approved
March 15, 1962, provided homestead exemptions and Act No. 909, ap-
proved June 18, 1962, arranged to spread increases over a period of
four years. While it is estimated that these laws will reduce real
property tax collections by some $160,000, it is expected that this pro-
gram will bring an estimated $629,854 in revenues from 1962 assess-
ments, an increase of $87,605 over taxes computed in 1961 assessments.
 The following is a detailed table of assessments and taxes by islands:

 Real property assessments

 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961

St. Thomas--._ _. ... ------ $13,170,900 $15,053,900 $16,846,500 $28,939,384 $28, 432, 438
St. Croix---....------------- 11,179,102 12, 329, 066 13, 020, 298 27, 391,290 29,135,558
St. John-.-----.. --....---------- 598, 400 662, 700 642,956 1,890,266 2,016,358
 Total ------------- 24,948,402 28,045,666 30,509, 754 58,220,940 59,584,354

 Real property taxes

 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961

St. Thomas .------------..-- $164, 637 $188,175 $210, 581 $296,228 $305, 456
St. Croix ----- -------_ --- 139, 739 154, 113 162, 856 231,908 304,194
St. John -------------- -- 7,480 8,285 8,037 14,113 20,204
 Total. --------- ---- 311,856 350, 573 381,474 542,249 629, 854