ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr., convened at the Capitol Building. Officials from the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General (OIG) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and the Law Enforcement Planning Commission testified on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budgets. 

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General, led by Inspector General Delia Thomas, presented a Fiscal Year 2027 budget request of $2,898,392, maintaining the same funding level as Fiscal Year 2026 to support the agency’s oversight responsibilities and efforts to prevent fraud, waste and abuse across the Government of the Virgin Islands. The spending plan supports 22 positions, 18 filled and four vacant with $2.483 million, or 85.7%, allocated to personnel services and fringe benefits. The remaining funding includes $297,422 for other services, $65,000 for supplies, $45,100 for utilities and $8,001 for investigative and computer-related equipment. Thomas also requested an additional $276,438 above the proposed ceiling, including $234,344 for two entry-level investigators and one auditor and $42,094 to address salary disparities resulting from the new General Schedule pay plan. 

The request comes as OIG manages an expanding oversight workload with limited staffing. During Fiscal Year 2026, the office opened 13 new investigative cases, bringing its caseload to 20, while continuing audits and inspections involving the Water and Power Authority and several other government entities. Staffing remains a key operational challenge, with 10 auditors supporting assignments requiring 13 auditors, resulting in some personnel working across multiple audit teams. The office also reported delays in obtaining documents from government agencies, requiring subpoenas to advance several audits and investigations. As of July 22, 2026, there is a total of $30,821.43 in outstanding vendor payments. 

Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr. raised the broader issue of VIIG’s role in promoting government-wide compliance through education, training and prevention. Inspector General Delia Thomas identified expanded fraud-prevention training and management education as priorities, particularly as high employee turnover creates recurring gaps in institutional knowledge. Thomas emphasized training supervisors and managers, strengthening awareness of compliance requirements and examining underlying workforce challenges that can weaken internal controls and increase vulnerability to fraud.

The Virgin Islands Police Department Commissioner Mario M. Brooks presented a Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund budget of $73,627,222.54, primarily supporting personnel, fringe benefits and operational expenses. VIPD will also receive $3 million from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund for tourism-related initiatives and plans to utilize approximately $18.332 million in federal grants to supplement General Fund resources. VIPD reported an 8% reduction in overall crime from Fiscal Year 2024 through Fiscal Year 2026, with 143 illegal firearms recovered and 420 arrests during Fiscal Year 2026. Workforce capacity remains a challenge, with 59 vacancies and 95 employees eligible for retirement, increasing pressure on recruitment and retention efforts. Fiscal Year 2027 priorities include strengthening the department’s workforce, expanding intelligence and surveillance capabilities, modernizing police facilities and advancing technology to improve public safety operations. Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr. inquired about VIPD’s outstanding vendor obligations and Fiscal Year 2026 revenues. VIPD reported approximately $362,000 in outstanding vendor payments and an estimated $645,000 in revenues for the fiscal year.

Law Enforcement Planning Commission Director Moleto A. Smith Jr. presented a Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund budget request of $834,744, supporting eight budgeted positions and the agency’s administration and oversight of federal criminal justice funding. The request includes $730,817 for personnel and fringe benefits, $89,527 for other services and charges, $12,000 for utilities and $2,400 for supplies. LEPC is also seeking a $156,511.84 supplemental appropriation to hire an additional grants manager, provide moderate salary increases for non-union employees and cover related operational costs. The agency currently administers an $11.5 million federal grant portfolio and has sub-awarded approximately $7.98 million to law enforcement agencies, the Judiciary, government entities and nonprofit organizations since 2024. Following its removal from a longstanding U.S. Department of Justice high-risk designation, LEPC’s Fiscal Year 2027 priorities include maintaining federal compliance, implementing a Victim Notification System, strengthening juvenile justice compliance, developing a Virgin Islands Data Repository and expanding research and strategic planning to support public safety.

Senators present at the committee hearing were Novelle E. Francis Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Hubert L. Frederick, Marise C. James, Kenneth L. Gittens, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Avery Lewis, Kurt A. Vialet, Clifford Joseph, and Carla J. Joseph. 

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Press Contact: Africah N.T. Harrigan

Email: aharrigan@legvi.org