On Tuesday, the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance heard Moleto Smith Jr., director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission, justify his agency’s budget.
He testified that his agency’s request for $859,167 included $734,766 to cover the salaries of nine employees and their fringe benefits.
Committee Chair Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory said that, though the commission’s budget was small, the agency needed to look at ways to cut its dependency on the General Fund. She added that the time lapse between the commission spending money and being reimbursed with federal funds contributed to the government’s cash flow problems.
She also expressed concern that the commission had no presence on St. Croix. Smith said the commission rented office space from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs in Christiansted. Still, it was only used when employees from St. Thomas came over.
Smith testified that the fiscal year 2025 budget appropriation request reflects a decrease of $43,509.03, or five percent, compared to the fiscal year 2024 budget appropriation. Frett-Gregory said her figures indicate only a decrease of around 3 percent.
Smith said the commission administers over $13 million in federal grants.
Sen. Novelle Francis said that over $9 million in that grant money had not been spent, and “that was not a good sign.”
In addition to Frett-Gregory and Francis, Sens. Marvin Blyden, Dwayne DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Javan James, and Samuel Carrion attended the hearing.
