Waste Management says $38M not enough, Human Resources justifies $63M budget request

St. Thomas, USVI – ALTHOUGH Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority Executive Director May Adams Cornwall challenged the $38,799,719 recommended by the  Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as being less than adequate, she negated to request additional funding for their 2009 Fiscal Year Budget.

Cornwall, instead of requesting a 10% increase in funding, told the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) that a lump-sum budget would allow the agency to efficiently manage its operations.

Human Services also is slated to receive $27.2 million in federal grants for a total FY 2009 budget of $90.8 million.

During her presentation to the senators on Wednesday, she informed that about 59% of the budget ($22.9 million) will pay for professional and other services while 30% ($11.7 million) will cover personnel costs and fringe benefits. The remaining funds are earmarked for the paying of utilities, capital outlays and chemicals and supplies, Cornwall said.

She took the opportunity to highlight goals achieved by Waste Management during FY 2008 and outlined ongoing challenges and plans for 2009.

As specified by the Authority’s Executive Director, goals for the upcoming fiscal year included exploring, reclaiming and reusing treated effluent water for commercial, industrial and agriculture.

 Meanwhile, V.I. Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch endorsed the $63 million his department requested for its 2009 FY budget, claiming the funds were necessary if the department was to manage top priorities.

This fiscal year’s budget requests exceed the previous year’s by 8.57% and will be allotted accordingly: $300,000 supplement for the Child Care Subsidy program, $300,000 toward the homelessness program, $1.7 million to cover personnel and fringe benefit shortfalls for employees, $13.2 million to cover residential care costs on and off island, $4.3 million to operate the Youth Rehabilitation Center and $7.8 million for two nursing homes and for the territory-wide Meals on Wheels program.

Finch said the balance of the approximately $63.3 million would go towards continuing its current programs, increasing services to the homeless, expanding and increasing subsidized child care, enhancing local resident treatment options and allowing eligible applicants to use more food stamps.

Human Services is again requesting the funds be allocated in a lump-sum as had been the case last year, saying the department had certain mandates for which they must provide services “despite any budgetary limitations”.