ST. THOMAS – The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, Chaired by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers received testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States for the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council, and the Virgin Islands Department of Health.
Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture delivered its proposed FY 2025 Budget of $6,327,890. This is a notable decrease of about 24.42% from FY 2024. The majority of the FY 2024 Budget was used for salaries, infrastructure repairs, and maintenance. $5,327,889 of the budget is requested from the General Fund. $4,334,669 is for Personnel and Fringe Benefits. $262,260 is for Supplies, $160,000 is for Utilities, and $570,930 is for other services. Animal Shelter Services Contracts are allocated at $377,500, and operational/staff funds for the Industrial Help Program of $243,286 are under the miscellaneous section. There is an additional $1,000,000 from the Tourism Funds. The Department anticipates receiving $270,805 in non-appropriated funds from the Agriculture Revolving Fund. Federal Grants already received, such as the multi-year USDA Specialty Crops Grant, Forest Legacy Grant, Urban Forest Grants, and other grants total $2,054,777. This totals $9,274,257 in total funds available. The Department of Agriculture has sixty-six total positions. Sixty are filled. Of these filled positions, twenty-six are exempt and thirty-four are classified. There are six vacant positions, of which three are exempt and three are classified. Forty-nine positions are in St. Croix, nine are in St. Thomas, and two are in St. John.
Petersen stated that major challenges faced by the Department included the cost of mold remediation at its office buildings, and the excessive cost of farm access road repair. Heavy rains in the territory have also contributed to severe soil erosion, poor road condition, and limited access to farm plots in and around the Community Gardens in St. Croix. The failure of a well pump in Estate Dorothea on St. Thomas severely impacted the ability to distribute water resources for months. There is also an outstanding debt of $80,000 associated with 2017 hurricane restoration work done by VIYA. The Department also continues to face challenges with a shortage of staff.
Dr. David Hall, Chair of the Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council presented a proposed FY 2025 Budget of $4,157,500. The Council was created through Act 8716. It convened on July 18, 2023, and has held bi-weekly meetings since its creation. The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture received an allotment of $350,000 from the local government to support the Agricultural plan, which would be used to hire key personnel. However, no funds have been expended. Key allocations include funding for critical roles such as the Local Food and Farm Coordinator. Recruitment efforts are also underway to fill essential positions such as Civil Engineer, Plant Pathologist, Soil and Water Conservationist, Soil Scientist and Executive Assistant.
The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority received $500,000 to establish the Public-Private Partnership Investment Fund. However, this funding was deemed inadequate due to 106 applications received for the funding. The total amount that was requested was $4,683,541.46. The Virgin Islands Department of Education received $500,000 to begin a pilot program to develop a curriculum and training programs for a sustainable food system. The University of the Virgin Islands was appropriated $883,000, divided amongst projects. $513,000 was released for specific purposes. $250,000 was allocated for the operation of the Agriculture Business Center. $150,000 was allocated for the Eastern Caribbean Center. The Office of Sponsored Program was allocated $250,000 for federal grants related to water, irrigation, infrastructure, and agricultural needs, and $120,000 for the Local Food and Farm council grant writers. $13,000 was allocated for the Local Food and Farm fund for private donations for agriculture projects. $24,500 is needed to implement changes to the Agricultural Plan for Organic Agriculture.
Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Health provided a total proposed FY 2025 Budget of $58,775,761. This includes $26,060,486 from the General Fund, $1.2 Million in the Health Revolving Fund, $29,386,477 in federal grants, and $2,128,798 in non-appropriated funds. The proposed FY 2025 budget has decreased by $1,285,937 compared to FY 2024. Of the General Fund Budget, $12,113,464 is for Personnel Services, $7,603,696 is for Other Services and Charges, $5,421,591 is for Fringe Benefits. $808,079 is for Supplies, and $63,000 for Utilities. Of the Fund, Personnel Services Accounts for $11,017,020, Capital Outlay, $50,000, Fringe Benefits, 4,992,515, Supplies, $5,421,422, Other Services and Charges $7,860,352, and Public Utility Services at $45,168. The Health Revolving Fund is broken down into Capital outlay of $38,278, Supplies of $188,965, and Other Service and Charges of $972,757. The non-appropriated funds is broken down into Supplies of $427,000, Other Services and Charges of $354,647, and Public Utility Services of $1,347,151. The total FY 2025 Budget for the Department has decreased by $1,285,937 compared to FY 2024.
There are 389.76 funded positions. 204.14 are funded through the general fund. 185.62 are federally funded. 191.66 employees are in the St. Thomas-St. John District. 198.10 are in the St. Croix District. There are 221.26 classified employees. There are 158.25 exempt employees and 10.25 temporary employees. Between October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, there have been thirteen separations. Forty-six team members have been onboarded, which included thirty-five new hires and eleven rehires. There are 3.5 general fund vacancies and 48.5 federal vacancies.
Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Samuel Carriόn, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Marise C. James, and Javan E. James, Sr.
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