Nov. 9, 2001 – Chances are, some $6.9 million in amendment appropriations the 24th Legislature approved by the end of its three-day session Thursday night won't survive much longer than the short trip on St. Thomas from the Legislature Building to Government House.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has repeatedly criticized the Senate about its spending, a criticism senators have rejected — especially now, in light of the huge pay raises the governor granted top administration officials by executive order last week.
Those raises — technically increases to the salary ceiling for several appointive ("exempt") position categories — will be the subject of a full Senate session Tuesday. Top Turnbull officials have been subpoenaed by the Senate to appear and explain where the money is coming for the raises.
The Senate has made it clear where the millions of dollars for the amendments are coming from: From the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund. On Thursday night, they were tacked onto a bill to appropriate $4.4 million from that fund to repair the territory's sewer and waste management systems to comply with federal court orders. The amendments specify the further appropriations of:
– $1.7 million to pay mandatory overtime, fringe benefits and other personnel costs at the territory's hospitals and the St. John community health center.
– $800,000 to pay Education Department food service workers.
– $800,000 for upgrading Motor Vehicles Bureau facilities.
– $700,000 for Housing Authority cisterns, slabs and mortgage assistance.
– $575,000 for the Education Department for school repairs, cleaning and mechanical work.
– $520,000 for Estate Fortuna infrastructure development on St. Thomas.
– $310,000 for Charlotte Amalie, Ivanna Eudora Kean and Julius E. Sprauve School cleaning services.
– $301,035 for Personnel Division operating expenses.
– $224,000 to hire personnel for the Economic Development Commission.
– $150,000 for paving roads in Estate Grove Place on St. Croix.
– $100,000 for kitchen equipment at public schools.
– $100,000 for John H. Woodson Junior High School gym repairs.
– $100,000 for Central High School Learning/Media Center repairs.
– $89,792 for landscaping obligations on St. John.
– $81,711 for the Labor Department's Unemployment Division operating expenses.
– $60,000 for Joseph Gomez School air-conditioning.
– $50,000 for Arthur A. Richards Junior High School kitchen roof repairs.
– $50,000 for Pearl B. Larson Elementary School gym repairs.
– $50,000 for Alexander Henderson Elementary School gym electrical repairs.
– $30,000 to pave roads in Estate Peter's Rest on St. Croix.
– $30,000 to reimburse Turnbull Welding Services for government building work.
– $30,000 for Eulalie Rivers School Steppers' travel expenses.
– $25,000 for D. Hamilton Jackson Day activities.
– $20,000 for Joseph Gomez School to rebuild modular classrooms.
– $4,000 for a chain-link fence around the Joseph Gomez School tennis courts.
