The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance is meeting to receive
testimony from the Government’s Financial Team on the territory’s finances to include the
status of vendor payments, property taxes, 90-120 days revenue collections, 90-120 days general
expenditures, the Tourism Revolving Fund, Compliance reporting in accordance with Act 8915,
the Line of Credit, the Budget Stabilization Fund, the Single Payer Utility, cash on hand, federal
drawdowns and status of federal grants to include FEMA, ARPA and CARES and the Epstein
Fund, etc.
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will also receive testimony from the
Virgin Islands Department of Public Works on the overview of Capital Projects (Territorial),
Garvee funded projects, an update on road projects and bridges, the status of the Paul E. Joseph
Stadium and the VITRAN Maintenance and Operations Facility on St. Croix.
Invited Testifiers:
The Honorable Kevin McCurdy, Commissioner, VI Department of Finance
Mr. Julio Rhymer, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Mr. Joel Lee, Director, VI Bureau of Internal Revenue
Mrs. Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery
Mr. Brent Leerdam, Tax Collector, Office of the Lt. Governor
Ms. Chalma Moorhead, Acting Tax Assessor, Office of the Lt. Governor
Ms. Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator, Office of Collective Bargaining
Ms. Cindy L. Richardson, Director, Division of Personnel
The Honorable Derek Gabriel, Commissioner, VI Department of Public Work

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The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance convened today, March 18, 2025, at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall in St. Thomas to hear testimony on two lease agreements. Bill No. 36-0028 involves a lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Tropical Marine, Inc., while Bill No. 36-0040 pertains to a lease with the Charles M. Kim V.I. Foundation, Inc. for the Virgin Islands Museum of Art. Key testimony was provided by officials from the Department of Property and Procurement and representatives from the respective lessees. The committee also reviewed two additional bills: Bill No. 36-0023, which seeks to amend the Virgin Islands Code regarding the highway user tax, and Bill No. 36-0038, which proposes an increase in the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s outstanding bond limit from $100 million to $500 million. Experts from the Department of Finance, Public Works, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Port Authority contributed insights to inform legislative decision-making.

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The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will convene on April 15, 2025, at 12:00 P.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chamber on St. Thomas to address several key issues. The agenda includes receiving updates on the Virgin Islands Diabetes Center of Excellence from Executive Director Ms. Julia Sheen, discussing Bill No. 36-0062 regarding a lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the U.S. Department of Commerce for a telecommunications tower, with testimony from Mr. Vincent Richards. Additionally, the Committee will hear testimony on bills including Bill No. 36-0008, which mandates that the Lieutenant Governor offset property tax liabilities against amounts owed to property owners, featuring insights from Tax Collector Mr. Brent Leerdam, and Bill No. 36-0042, aimed at increasing the maximum judgment award against the Government of the Virgin Islands, with contributions from Dr. Felicita Richards of the League of Women Voters.

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