St. Thomas – Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriation, and Finance, chaired by Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, convened in a meeting at the Capitol Building. Officials from the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA), the Legal Services of the Virgin Islands (LSVI), the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA), and the Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) testified on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands.
The Governor’s recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is $26,574,629, according to Eugene Jones Jr., Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority. The FY 2025 budget breakdown is as follows: $8,619,604 for personnel services, $784,940 for capital outlays, $3,823,801 for fringe benefits, $169,752 for supplies, $12,799,032 for other services, and $377,500 for utilities. Additionally, VIHFA anticipates receiving $600,000 from stamp tax collections, an estimated $1.8 million from home sales, $160,000 annually from 18 commercial leases, $350,000 annually from mortgages, and $21.6 million from federal reimbursements. The proposed $2,000,000 government appropriation from the General Fund allocates $1,293,000 for personnel services and $707,000 for fringe benefits. Senator Frett-Gregory questioned whether the positions filled in relation to the General Fund appropriations are filled by local or federal employees. Jones responded by stating that local workers receive the salaries for all the positions, totaling $1,297,715. He explained that the $98,848 disparity is composed of vacancies. Senator Frett-Gregory requested a list of vacancies so that the Senate could justify the $2,000,000 appropriated to VIHFA.
Regarding the Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, the Governor’s Recommended General Fund FY 2025 totals $1,632,700. However, Shelby King Gaddy, Esq., Executive Director of Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, is requesting an additional $375,001 totaling $2,007,701, the same amount as Fiscal Year 2024. Defending the budget request, Gaddy, Esq., noted that the monies will enable LSVI to maintain the status quo, hire attorneys, and meet the growing legal demands of the community. These include assisting clients in areas such as housing, health, safety, families, and the elderly and disabled. Senate Frett-Gregory requested that LSVI submit to the Senate a complete financial breakdown of the requested budget. Separately, in response to Senator Marvin Blyden’s inquiry regarding outstanding debt, Kenneth Guye, Director of Finance and Administration and CFO indicated that LSVI owes a total of $24,000.
Separately, the General Fund appropriations of $4,947,746 and the Consumer Protection Fund allocations of $500,000 make up the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs budget for FY 2025, according to H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner of the DLCA. Compared to the amended FY 2024 budget authorization of $5,616,748, the DLCA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025 from the General Fund allocation is $4,947,746, a decrease of $669,002. Out of the General Fund, there are $3,068,616.03 for personnel services, $1,444,844.15 for fringe benefits, and $434,287 for operating expenses. Joanne Moorehead, the Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Regulations, reported to the Senate that they had received a total of $1,750,000. The breakdown is as follows: Act 8167 provided OCR with $500,000, which the organization subsequently lent in 2021 in compliance with the law. Additionally, because of Act 8680, the Legislature appropriated cash to the Office of Cannabis Regulation totaling $1,000,000 to enable the formation of operations. Act 8363 had previously appropriated $250,000, received in 2022, primarily for software acquisition. Thus far, the amount expended totals $737,150.36, with a balance of $1,012,849.64. To date, OCR has one staff member, with hopes of hiring four cannabis investigators in the St. Croix District and the St. Thomas-St. John District. Senator Frett-Gregory strongly advised that if OCR is hiring new officers, budgeting for vehicles is important, and OCR should start the procurement process this fiscal year. Lastly, Senator Frett-Gregory cautioned OCR to produce a clear FY 2025 budget and submit it to the Senate.
Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Javan E. James, Sr., and Carla J. Joseph, Sammuel Carrion, Diane T. Capehart, Marise C. James.
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