The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, led by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room.  Lawmakers received testimonies regarding the proposed FY 2027 budgets for the Bureau of Information Technology, the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

Rupert Ross, Director of the Bureau of Information Technology, delivered a proposed FY 2027 budget of $14,329,386. There are 31 budgeted positions. 14 positions are classified. 17 positions are exempt. Of these positions, there are currently seven vacancies.  Software licensing remains the largest and fastest growing expense for the bureau, which is driven by enterprise agreements and the expansion of services across agencies. Infrastructure replacement and modernization remain critical to address growing threats. In the proposed budget, $2,242,462 is for personnel services and $1,058,963 is for Fringe benefits. $139,500 is budgeted for supplies. Other services total $1,584,272.  $150,000 is budgeted for capital outlay to replace two trucks in the district, one in St. Thomas and one in St. Croix.  $250,000 is budgeted for utilities.  A miscellaneous general fund request of $8,904,189 is requested for ancillary operations and unforeseen needs. $4,516.332 is requested to renew Microsoft contract and enterprise licensing agreement. $2,803,525 is budgeted for professional services, such as maintenance and support services for its on-premises infrastructure cloud solution.  $1,584,332 is budgeted to support the renewal of essential software licenses and subscriptions. Some accomplishments for the agency include maintaining and expanding enterprise service delivery through platforms such as Service Now. Additionally, cybersecurity platforms have remained stable, with the Government Network Operations and Security Center serving as the central hub for monitoring and response.  

Antonio Stevens, Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, delivered a proposed general fund FY 2027 budget of $34,318,681. VIFEMS has a total of 289 personnel, 255 of which are trained first responders. 90% of the budget is expected to be used for personnel costs. Most other operational costs are expected to be covered by other funding sources.  Other local funding that will support operations include monies collected and deposited in the Fire Service Emergency Fund. Monies in that fund are collected by VIFEMS for inspections, permits, and other services. Fund projections for FY 2027 are $782,879. The entirety of this fund can be used by VIFEMS. However, it is only entitled to a portion of the Emergency Services Fund, which consists of monies collected from a surcharge added to telephone lines for emergency services. Projections for that fund total $774,048. Local funding is also expected to be augmented by federal grant awards from the Department of Interior’s Technical Assistance and Maintenance Assistance Program and the US Department of Agriculture’s Virgin Islands Fire Service State Fire Assistance Program. These awards total $938,000 and will be used to purchase wildland firefighting supplies, SCBAs, an oxygen filling station, mechanical equipment, and a boat trailer.  Stevens highlighted accomplishments such as the implementation of EMS continuing education, graduating 13 firefighter/EMTs from the inaugural VIFEMS EMT Academy, increasing the number of existing firefighters who are national registered EMTS, and receiving new ambulances and new response vehicles.  

Daryl Jaschen, Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, delivered a proposed FY 2027 Budget of $11,087,674.  Of this, $5,911,126 will come from the General Fund.  It includes Personnel Services of $3,282,464, Fringe of $1,647,143, Supplies of $83,056, Other supplies of $605,206, and Utilities of $293,257. There are approximately 74 positions. This also includes $250,000 in miscellaneous items for Disaster Recovery, Contingency of $175,000, and a generator maintenance Agreement of $75,000 for repairs and Maintenance. Projected Rent for Fiscal Year 2027 for the Christiansted VITEMA Office is projected to be $14,243 per month.  The contract expires on September 30, 2027, with a one-year renewal option at a monthly rate of $14,670. The other budgeted rent with is for the St. Croix 9-1-1 ECC space and is scheduled to remain the same at $1,925 with the contact scheduled to expire on November 30, 2027. Utility services are budgeted at $293,257, including electricity and water. It is paid through the Department of Finance Single Payer Utility.  Additionally, there is $5,176,548 in non-appropriated funds, including $4,439,786 in federal funds and $736,762 is projected from the territory’s Emergency Services Surcharge.

Major accomplishments from VITEMA include receiving full accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program in October 2024.  This is the first time that any US Territory has achieved this. The Department has been focused on overtime reduction, especially with filling 9-1-1 call center vacancies. Additionally, funding for Volunteer Rescue organizations on St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island is budgeted with the OMB and is released based on successful submission to VITEMA of annual requirement reflecting the organization’s good standing. The amounts budgeted for FY2027 is $430,000, with $175,000 for St. Thomas Rescue, $175,000 for St. Croix Rescue, $65,000 for St. John and $15,000 for Water Island Rescue. In the past four years, St. Croix Rescue has not received any funding. Jaschen stated that the department faces significant challenges, such as federal funding delays, FEMA and CISA workforce reductions, and the loss of key grant management personnel in late 2025.   

Senators present at today’s committee hearing were Novelle E. Francis Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Hubert L. Frederick, Marise C. James, Carla J. Joseph, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Avery L. Lewis, Milton E. Potter and Kurt A. Vialet.

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