Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance

The 35th Legislature’s Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

BLOCK I

Bill No. 35-0180 – An Act appropriating $5,124,000 from the Internal Revenue Matching Fundin fiscal year September 30, 2024, for the construction and site improvements of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium Project and requiring the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works to submit status reports of the project to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Invited Testifiers:
The Honorable Derek Gabriel, Commissioner, Department of Public Works
Mr. Nathan Simmonds, Director of Finance and Administration, V.I. Public Finance Authority
Mr. John Wessel, Owner, GEC, LLC

BLOCK II

Bill No. 35-0191 – An Act appropriating the sum of $17,000,000.00 or so much of that sum as is necessary, in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, from the excess of funds contained in the Debt Service Reserve Fund for the Gross Receipts Taxes Revenue Bonds to the Virgin Islands Port Authority for the dredging of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor and establishing reporting requirements for the expended funds.

Invited Testifiers:
Mr. Nathan Simmonds, Director of Finance and Administration, V.I. Public Finance Authority
Mr. Anthony A. Ottley, President & Chief Executive Officer, The West Indian Company Limited
The Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Carlton Dowe, Executive Director, V.I. Port Authority

BLOCK III

Bill No. 35-0190 – An Act to appropriate $350,000 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to provide bottled drinking water to persons residing in the areas identified by the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority as most impacted by elevated levels of copper and lead in the potable water system.

Invited Testifiers:
Ms. Jenifer O’Neal, Director, V.I. Office of Management and Budget
The Honorable, Justa “Tita” Encarnacion, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Health