The Office of the Governor has been able to cut its personnel costs, but senators questioned why the savings hasn’t been passed on to other employees within the agency who are still making minimum wage.
During Senate budget hearings Thursday, Government House Chief of Staff Karl Knight said the office has about 79 full-time filled positions and eight vacant ones, with personnel costs estimated at approximately $5.3 million.
Finance Committee chair Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory commended Government House Chief of Staff Karl Knight on saving $109,000 by partially transferring the salaries of the governor’s executive security team to the V.I. Police Department but advocated for the funds to be redistributed instead of being cut completely.
The Office of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2024 General Fund budget is $10.4 million, including $725,159 Bureau of Economic Research and $295,989 for Office of Gun Violence. Knight said the office is requesting $1.1 million for miscellaneous/special activities and $300,000 from the Tourism Revolving Fund, bringing the overall budget request to $11.8 million.
Also in the budget is “other services,” which is a total of $1.8 million, including repair and maintenance of equipment, vehicles, rent, training, and travel. $75,000 for capital outlay and of the budget of $489,000 for utilities.
Additionally, $1.1 million will cover expenses for miscellaneous annual activities to include USVI/British Virgin Island Friendship Day, USVI/Puerto Rico Friendship Day activities in both districts, Emancipation Day activities, the Government Access Channel, the Virgin Islands Commission on Status, Office of Health Information Technology Exchange and Office of Gun Violence Prevention for operational expenses, along with the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System.
Testifying separately Thursday, representatives from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor requested $7.6 million to pay employees’ salaries, including fringe benefits, supplies, maintenance, payments for leases and rents, renovations, and vendor payments.
Frett-Gregory, along with Sens. Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Samuel Carriόn, and Javan E. James, Sr. were present during Thursday’s hearing.
