Aug. 8, 2008 — Salary increases and overtime pay were on the minds of directors from the V.I. Public Television System and the V.I. Fire Service when they presented their budgets to the Senate Committee on Finance Thursday in Frederiksted.
The recommendation made by Gov. John deJongh Jr. for WTJX Channel 12 is $5.4 million, an increase of nearly 20 percent over fiscal year 2008.
Osbert Potter, executive director, said an increase of five percent over the 2008 budget request is for operations. That request is for a moderate salary increase for exempt personnel.
"The exempt personnel have not received any salary increases in over a two-year period," said Potter. The increases are subject to approval by the station's board of directors.
Potter is also requesting $500,000 in capital funding. Part of that amount would be $150,000 needed to complete the public parking area for the station on St. Croix. Also included in the capital funding request is $200,000 to renovate the master control facility at Mountain Top, to install security fencing and to construct a storage facility at the site. The remaining $150,000 would be used for continued renovation at the station on St. Croix. Potter said the plans are for soundproofing the conference room and additional office space.
Sen. Louis Hill asked how much money was raised through fundraising, underwriting, and if they do pledge drives.
"Pledge drives are very expensive and labor-intensive to hold," said Yvette De Laubanque, development officer. "So we have made the decision not to hold them."
She told the senators there is $185,000 underwritten. She added she has raised $245,000 with special events such as "A Taste of Two Islands." There is a $700,000 grant from the PBS corporation that stations throughout the nation get, Potter said. The station has also received grants for things such as solar lighting in St. Thomas.
De Laubanque said it is a balancing act making decisions to keep local programs on the air with funding by the government.
Potter said it has been his philosophy to place a heavy emphasis on local programming, especially those programs with a strong educational, cultural, and community interest value. Some of those local programs are "Graffiti Street," "School Days/Happy Days," "The Teacher Is In" and "Face to Face."
"I must say I am pleased with what WTJX does," said Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson. He also said he had seen a lot of progress made at WTJX.
"I want channel 12 to be the station of choice in the Virgin Islands," Potter said.
The governor's recommended budget for V.I. Fire Services (VIFS) is $19.4 million, a 7.5 percent increase over last year.
Testifying for VIFS was Victor Browne, director, Charmaine Hewlett, administrator of financial and administrative services, Daryl George, special assistant to the director, and St. Croix Fire Chief Steve Brow.
Browne told Nelson, the only senator present for that segment of the hearing, that overtime is always a concern, especially in difficult times. He said this year they have already spent close to $180,000 in the St. Thomas/St. John district for supervisors, when fire services was budgeted $140,000.
Sen. Nelson asked testifiers what the starting salary for firefighters is — he was told it is $28,500.
"I don't believe that beginning salary is appropriate for someone whose job is hazardous," Nelson said. "I think government should make arrangements for raises."
Equipment purchases such as a fireboat and ladder trucks were discussed.
Browne said a ladder unit is no longer a fancy, but a necessity since buildings are getting taller.
With the return of cruise ships to St. Croix, plans to purchase a fireboat are on the table. Browne said VIFS isn't equipped to do shipboard fires or water rescues.
"I certainly see a need for a ladder truck, boosting funds for overtime and supplies," Nelson said.
Other senators in and out during the meeting were James Weber and Neville James.
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