Governor: Paying the fines corrected secretary of state’s tax return situation

Puerto Rico Secretary of State Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said Tuesday that the situation regarding Secretary of State Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo’s failure to file tax returns during two periods in which she worked in Washington, D.C., is not comparable to what happened to former Citizens Victory Movement Rep. Mariana Nogales Molinelli, who faced a fine for omitting information in her financial reports.

“Well, the cases are very different,” the governor said at a press conference. “In this [Ferraiuoli’s] case, she was a federal employee, an employee of the United States Congress; federal employees can file federal taxes. She filed federal taxes, and the accountant at the time believed that it wasn’t necessary to file state taxes even though state withholdings had been made. When I filed my first tax return, my accountants told me I could only file federal taxes because I was a federal employee at the time and had no state income. However, I still decided to do it, to file state taxes. Something similar happened in her case. As soon as she realized it, in November of last year, long before I even asked her to be secretary of state, which basically happened in the last week of December, she not only filed the tax returns, she paid the entire obligation with interest and surcharges, and there had been state withholdings. So, the payment of that interest makes up for it.”

Regarding the Financial Oversight and Management Board’s objection to tax measures filed by her administration, González Colón insisted that information validating the measures was provided.

“The treasury secretary submitted the cost of each of these initiatives, as well as the AAFAF [Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority],” she said. “Saying there isn’t one is incorrect. Not only is it taken into consideration, but some of these measures will generate revenue. For example, the 4 percent payment for those coming under Law 60 generates revenue for the treasury, so that revenue is also taken into consideration when making tax reduction remittances.”

“In the case of the rest of the reforms that will be considered from August to December, all the elements will be evaluated there, so we have determined how they will be paid,” the governor added.

“The resources are there. I would like to lower contributions for individuals and corporations at this time, but I need to identify where I will pay for it.”

González Colón also said she will sign the religious freedom bill.

And regarding the questions raised about proposed bail guidelines for certain crimes, the governor reiterated that the document is not set in stone, so anyone who has any objections can voice their concerns.

“We have submitted a proposed bail guideline to standardize what has been a discretionary measure that is disproportionate in the bail issued for murder, rape and aggravated robbery,” she said. “We included that, and now this bill is not set in stone; it has been submitted to the Legislature. They will conduct public hearings, legal experts will be able to comment, the judicial branch will be able to comment, and experts will review the appropriateness or otherwise of this measure. But I think it’s important that we have uniformity.”