ST. THOMAS - The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, Chaired by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers received testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States for the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Public Employees Relations Board, and the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee.

Kimika Woods, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget delivered its proposed FY 2025 budget of $9,983,712.  $7,877,209 is from the General Fund and $2,106,503 from the Indirect Cost Fund. Of the General Fund, Personnel is $4,257,643, Fringe Benefits is $1,833,566, Supplies is $ 388,500, Other Services & Charges is $1,252,500, Utilities is $100,000, and Capital Outlay is $ 45,000.  Of the Indirect Cost Fund, Supplies is $1,007,000, Other Services and Charges, $933,003, Utilities is $101,500, and Capital Outlay is $65,000. There are 51 full time employees at the Office. There are currently 22 vacant positions. Of these, 19 are unclassified/exempt and three are classified-non-union. Three exempt positions have been filled.  There are currently 29 employees at the office, comprising of 22 unclassified and 7 classified-non-union employees. Also within the budget is an allocation of $1,471,519 for the GVI Fellows Program.  Woods stated that a 5% reduction has been implemented amongst all departments’ operating expenses.

Pierina Jacobs-Feldman, Chairperson of the V.I. Public Employees Relations Board delivered its proposed FY 2025 budget of $1,686,909.  This includes its budget ceiling of $1,466,909, as well as a request for an additional $220,000. The PERB is comprised of the Chairman and four board members. One board position is vacant.  There are 10 staff members, eight are on St. Croix and two are St. Thomas.  Of the proposed FY 2025 budget, Personnel Services accounts for $805,020, Fringe Benefits $339,241, Supplies $26,424, Other Services and Charges $279,624, and Utilities $16,600.  Executive Director of the PERB Jessica Philigence stated that the additional request of $220,000 is needed to restructure the agency to bring it up to par with sister agencies nationwide. This would be used to hire more personnel. Since the PERB was established in 1980, more employees and unions have been added to the Government.  Yirah Tutein, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee delivered its proposed FY 2025 budget of $200,000. $122,000 covers personnel. $10,000 covers fringe benefits. $5,000 covers office supplies. $63,000 covers other services and charges, which also includes professional services for workshops, network and communications, rental costs for office space, cost of utilities, and the cost of interisland travel. The V.I. Labor Management Committee has four employees, two full time and two part time. The VI Labor Management Committee is comprised of 10 members, five from labor and five from management.  

Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Samuel Carriόn, and Dwayne M. DeGraff.

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