Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance

The 35th Legislature’s Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

 BLOCK I

Bill No. 35-0261     An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Dale Browne and Yvette Browne d/b/a Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands for Plot No. 9-P Estate VICORP Lands, Prince Quarter, Prince Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands

 Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, Department of Property and Procurement

Mr. Dale Browne and Ms. Yvette Browne, Owner, Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands

Bill No. 35-0255     An Act approving the multi-year lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through its Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement and Rumina Construction, LLC, for Parcel No. 92A (Revised) Submarine Base, No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to operate an equipment and material storage depot yard, construction company office, and other related purposes

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, Department of Property and Procurement

Mr. Franklyn Victor, President, Rumina Construction, LLC

Bill No. 35-0262     An Act appropriating $1,434,950 in Fiscal Year 2024 from the Community Facilities Trust Fund for the preconstruction soft cost funding to prepare the Charlotte Amalie harbor for dredging

Invited Testifiers:

Mr. Carlton Dowe, Executive Director, V.I. Port Authority

Mr. Kevin McCurdy, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority

  BLOCK II

 The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance will receive testimony from the Government’s Financial

Team on the financial overview of the Government of the Virgin Islands to include but not limited to:

• Fiscal Year 2024 budget appropriations vs revenue collections to date;
• total allotments to date;
• projected revenues through September 30, 2024 and proposed adjustments for FY 2024 due to revenue shortfall, if any;
• status of union negotiations; and
• status of outstanding payments due to vendors for FY 2023

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Jenifer O ‘Neal, Director, Office of Management and Budget

Honorable Kevin McCurdy, Commissioner, Department of Finance

Mr. Joel Lee, Director, V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue

Mr. Ira R. Mills, Tax Assessor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Mr. Brent Leerdam, Tax Collector, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Ms. Cindy Richardson, Director, Division of Personnel

Ms. Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator, Office of Collective Bargaining