ST. THOMAS, VI – The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr. met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas to receive testimony for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for the Public Services Commission, Department of Labor, Division of Personnel, and the Office of Collective Bargaining.

Sandra Setorie, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission delivered its proposed budget of $2,079,250.51, a slight reduction from FY 2025.  The request is broken down as follows: $1,429,722.35 for Personnel Services and fringe, $81,029.92 is allocated for various supplies, catering, software, small tools, and minor equipment, $447.038.24 for Rent, Professional Services, Security services, Training, Communication, and Advertising, Travel, and Insurance, $36,000 for electricity, and $85,000 for machines and equipment.

The Commission regulates solid waste, wastewater, electricity, water and telecommunications and investigates complaints. The Commission received four times as many complaints in 2024 compared to 2023. As of 2025, the number of complaints has already surpassed the number of complaints received in 2024. There were 67 total complaints in 2023, There were 270 total complaints in 2024 and there have been 282 so far for 2025. Setorie mentioned there was an uptick in customer complaints during the migration of Liberty VI and WAPA metering system issues.

Until Fiscal Year 2025, the PSC has never been funded by direct appropriation of General Fund appropriations. It is solely funded by the assessments of the utilities it regulates. The Commission oversees numerous essential regulatory issues, solid waste, wastewater, electricity, water and telecommunications. When asked by Chairman Francis about what concerns her about the budget, Setorie stated that challenges included not receiving annual assessments in a timely manner.

Gary Molloy, PhD, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor delivered its total proposed budget of $19,145,779. The proposed General Fund Budget is $12,984,698. Of this amount, $5,317,865 is for Personnel Services, $2,996,018 is for fringe benefits, $472,902 for supplies, other services of $3,987,0892, and utility services of $240,831. The department has $6,161,081 in federal grant funding. The Department has 139 employees. Currently 121 positions are filled, with 58 based on St. Croix and 63 based in the St. Thomas-St. John District. 77 employees are classified under the Seafarers International Union of North America and the Steelworkers Union. 37 positions are exempt. Seven positions are non-union. The Department has 16 vacant backfilled positions from FY 2025. 10 positions are on the general fund, 6 are federally funded. There are also two new vacancies, 1 on the federal fund, and on the general fund.

Molloy stated that the Department has served more than 1500 job seekers, assisted almost 300 employers, and enrolled 125 individuals in training under WIOA. Additionally, Labor has resolved 37 safety cases, conducted 119 labor relations investigations resulting in recovery of $30,775 in recovered wages, and conducting over 100 hearings by the Hearings and Appeals Unit. When asked by Chairman Francis Jr. about what concerns him about the Budget, Molloy said that it was making sure they did the right thing for their staff and their community, stating that the Department of Labor had a lot of responsibilities, many things that the general public took for granted. Francis Jr. voiced the need to continue to expend federal monies.

Cindy Richardson, Director of the Division of Personnel delivered its proposed budget of $63,364,866. $62,758,866 is derived from the General Fund, and $561,000 from the Indirect Cost Fund. $4,109,544 is for Personnel Services, $1,831,274 for Fringe Benefits, $73,000 for supplies, and $1,043,484.82 for other services and charges. The Miscellaneous Budget summary includes $38,210,672 for Health Insurance for Retirees, $16,655,891 for Insurance Employer/Employee Share, $931,736.00 for the GVI Fellows Program, $315,000 for Health Insurance Consultants, $275,000 for Contributions to the Health Insurance Board, $80,000 for GVI Employees Recognition, and $75,000 for the Certified Public Manager Program.  Richardson also discussed concerns about the rising cost of  the government’s health insurance program.

Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator delivered the Office of Collective Bargaining’s proposed budget of $1,263,391. There are 7 employees, and one Assistant Attorney General-Labor, who is assigned to the office by the Department of Justice. Of the budget, $692,487 is for Personnel Services, $299,645 for Fringe Benefits, $89,500 for Equipment and Supplies, $168,759 for other Services, and $13,000 for Utilities. The Office does not receive any federal funds. Springette stated that the office’s demands are increasing, and therefore there is a need to fill vacancies, improve technology, and streamline operations. The Office strives to reduce labor disputes, continue training management in labor relations and improve relations between management and labor. The Office has a caseload of 367 cases. Of these, 294 are Rights Arbitration, 36 unfair labor practice Charges, 27 civil cases, 7 unit clarification cases, one Equal Employment Opportunity Case, and 1 Government Service Appeal, and one recertification case. From October 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025, there were 59 cases and 33 were closed.

Senators present at today’s Committee hearing were Chairman Novelle E. Francis Jr., Vice Chairman, Marvin A. Blyden, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Hubert L. Frederick, Ray Fonseca, Kenneth L. Gittens, Marise C. James, Milton E. Potter, and Kurt A. Vialet.

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