V.I. property tax bills for 2014, originally scheduled to go out before the end of the year, will be delayed until early 2015 to resolve various appeals associated with the 2013 bills, according to Shawna Richards, spokeswoman at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

Without the delay, property tax billing would have been up to date for the first time since a 2006 lawsuit by St. John owners objecting to the increase in St. John property values in relation to the rest of the territory.

But in an email to the Source on Monday, Richards said. "I understand the 2014 bills will be issued early next year."

She explained the office was working to “resolve informal appeals that were filed with the Tax Assessor’s Office."

Last week, Richards told the Source that 458 taxpayers on St. Thomas, 402 on St. Croix, and 505 on St. John asked for informal appeals of their property assessments. This means someone from the Tax Assessor’s Office visits a property to reassess its value, according to Richards.

St. John property owners are suing in protest of the most recent property valuation, again concerned that St. John values increased more than the rest of the territory, harming residents there. The owners, who would have to pay more tax due to the increase in property values, argue the new property valuation is not valid either, because they feel not enough properties were sold to establish a true market value for the less-expensive properties that have not changed hands. (See Related Links below)

Postponing the 2014 bills "supports the office’s overall objective of issuing accurate tax bills to Virgin Islands property owners," Richards said.