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 from the Office of the Adjutant General, the Office of Veterans Affairs, and the Virgin Islands Department of Education.

Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker, Adjutant General, Commander of the Virgin Islands Army and Air National Guard delivered the Office’s proposed General Fund budget of $3,243,939. This funding is also supported by the projected federal contribution of $46,956,770. Most employees of the Virgin Islands National Guard are part time. There is a workforce comprised of an Active Guard and Reserve force of 102 Army and 19 Air National Guard fulltime employees. There is a Federally funded civilian technician workforce consisting of 118 fulltime employees. Due to a nationwide reduction in Department of Defense Civil workforce, six civilian positions were lost.

Nikita Ward, Executive Director of the Office of the Adjutant General detailed the proposed budget. Personnel Services is allocated $1,343,855, Fringe benefits at $630,406, Supplies at $131,160,00, Capital Projects at $220,180, and other services, including Utilities and Miscellaneous at $918,338. There are 20 full time positions. Three are vacant. This includes an appropriation of $150,000 for the Virgin Islands National Guard Pension Fund and $982,242.00 for the Youth About Face and Forward March Program. An additional $2,968,553 is proposed to support the Virgin Islands National Guard from the projected Federal Master Cooperative Agreement.  When asked by Chairman Francis about what concerns him about the budget, Knox-Limbacker stated, he stated that overall, he has been unable to execute his budget because funds have not been available.

Patrick Farrell, Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs delivered the agency’s proposed budget of $1,219,369. $499,773 is allocated for personnel salaries and fringe benefits, $269,596 is for operating expenses. $450,000 is allocated for Veteran elective medical travel outside the Virgin Islands and burial benefits.  Farrell mentioned that to date, the families of 35 deceased veterans have been reimbursed for Burial expenses, up to $5,000 per family. The office has also received contributions from the Virgin Islands Lottery and proceeds from Veterans Taxi Medallion Auctions.  Farrell voiced the possibility of decreasing the financial hardship of the population by paying upfront for their medical travel to the nearest facility. When asked about what concerns him about the budget, Farrell stated it is not being able to know the future of the services for veterans in the territory in the next few months. He stated that the territory was underserved, especially when it came to medical services.

Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education, delivered its proposed budget of $179,316,999. This is a 5.04% increase from FY 2025. This includes $108,276,622 for personnel services, $54,845,476 for fringe benefits, $1,413,791 for supplies, $7,281,110 for other services, and $7,500,000 for utilities. $2,150,000 has been allocated to support personnel initiatives, with $425,000 specifically for temporary and part time salaries, $200,000 for substitute teacher salaries, and $1,525,900 for essential lump sum payments.  There are 1,954 Full time equivalent positions. There are 10,312 enrolled students. The Department has a staffing level of 2,034 active employees, including 1,869 classified positions and 165 exempt positions. As of June 3, 2025, the Department received 37 retirement letters and 28 resignation letters. 26 of these letters are teachers, 1 nurse and 5 administrators. 25 retirements and 35 resignation letters were received in the St. Thomas-St. John district.  A total of 35 teachers have informed the department that they are not returning to the Department, including 12 teachers in St. Croix and 10 teachers in St. Thomas-St. John. Additionally, 174 employees are eligible to retire, which includes 25 administrators, 16 paraprofessionals and 66 teachers. When asked by Chairman Francis what concerns her about the Budget, Wells-Hedrington stated it was getting the budget where it needed to be to sustain itself.

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, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Milton E. Potter, and Kurt A. Vialet.

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