Echoing the plaint of many agencies this budget season, three government bodies, big and small, testified they are severely strained by several years of back-to-back budget cuts during budget hearings. The Finance Committee heard from Public Works, the Office of the Public Defender and Office of the Inspector General on Tuesday.
"We have lost and continue to lose essential personnel such as engineers, transportation planners, bus operators, surveyors and tradesmen, all of which of which are vital to our day-to-day operations," said Public Works Human Resources Director Florine Audain-Hassell. She said the department currently has 225 employees, down by 119 since 2007. "The sharp decrease of personnel over the years is alarming and deeply troubling," she said.
Deep cuts in 2014 hurt the department’s ability to hire needed personnel, including engineers, she said. Last year, the department had to reduce its budget by $1.5 million, hampering hiring, he said. There are 14 vacancies, due to retirements and resignations.
If the positions remain unfunded, it will force work to be cut back and "reduce services to our community, such as engineering, cemetery and transportation services," she said.
Chief Public Defender Samuel Joseph similarly said, without more funding, his office cannot perform its duties. "I fully understand the current financial state of affairs of the territory, but any underfunding of this office will only result in more cost to the government," Joseph said. We cannot continue to expect these public defenders to fight the good fight without the appropriate tools." They need staffing, software upgrades, printers and other electronic equipment, Joseph said.
V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt also said budget cuts are hurting staffing and hurting his office’s ability to conduct investigations and audits in a timely fashion. "At one point we had three or four people on St. Croix and right now we are down to one," he said.
Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls presented his agency’s proposed budget of Public Works General Fund budget of $19.3 million. Of that, $5.75 million is for wages and salaries; $2.58 million is for fringe benefits, Social Security and Medicare taxes; $613,000 for supplies; $575,000 for utilities and $71,000 for capital projects on Department of Public Works facilities.
There is $9.7 million budgeted for "other services and charges."
The miscellaneous portion of the budget request comes to $2.21 million, with $1 million from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund; $300,000 from the Tourism Revolving Fund for carnival festivities; $383,000 for the St. Thomas/St. John ferry and other purposes and sources.
It anticipates $17.15 million in federal funds. Taking all funding from all sources together, Public Works expects a total funding level of $37.5 million. Smalls urged the Legislature to make the General Fund portion of the budget a lump sum appropriation. He said that would give the agency the flexibility to make emergency road repairs and to take other actions as needed, without coming to the Legislature for multiple appropriation transfers.
Joseph presented the Public Defender’s Office proposed budget of $4.71 million, which is an increase of $845,000 from last year. The budget request, which is $1 million more than the governor’s recommended budget, will help hire two more attorneys; one per district, and another investigator for St. Thomas/St. John, he said.
The office handled 690 cases as of June 30, of which 195 began this year. Of the 690 cases, 235 are felonies, 256 misdemeanors, 132 involve juveniles, 63 are driving while intoxicated cases and four are for child support. Ten cases are murders and six are cases on appeal.
Van Beverhoudt presented the Office of the Inspector General’s proposed FY15 budget of $1.5 million – all from the General Fund. He requested $98,000 more than the governor’s recommendation. This includes $936,000 for wages and salaries; $335,000 for fringe benefits, Social Security and Medicare taxes; $45,000 for utilities; and $112,000 in "other services and charges."
All committee members were present.
In the evening, the Health, Hospitals, Human Services and Veterans Affairs heard testimony on a bill creating an individual right to sue employers for a list of broadly defined workplace abuses and "bullying." Proponents argued that workplace bullying is rampant and the several existing laws are not preventing it. Opponents argued the bill was written ambiguously and would encourage lawsuits, which would in turn discourage hiring.
The committee voted 5-0 to hold the bill in committee indefinitely. Voting to hold the bill were Sens. Kenneth Gittens, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Clarence Payne, Tregenza Roach and Sammuel Sanes. Absent were Sens. Craig Barshinger and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen.
