[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6519474,"mediaKeyId","5356387-4c59de05a7e05825f9bf0e71a2f94789","parentId",5356387,"title","DPNR presents $146.9M FY2026 budget, seeks $2M in supplemental funding for permits and libraries","audioSeconds",2079,"startMs",1000,"endMs",2080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5356387-4c59de05a7e05825f9bf0e71a2f94789&start=1&end=2080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5356387-4c59de05a7e05825f9bf0e71a2f94789/thumbnail_1000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6519474/DPNR-presents-1469M-FY2026-budget-seeks-2M-in-supplemental-funding-for-permits-and-libraries","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519474-a5ab30f373031462fb4652a4bdbce917/orig.mp4?Expires=1775312658&Signature=a9FpTseI0FDIxqO4E9x-aNFjETaw2geh3kcsgL9ZtP9DSRswJucBpJOgVisplywFSULTLDdkjRj-PEkAiWNhJteiQXk0X-2M9~3gL31LTcMr0s1YCt0ZjVVp2FstjKhXKxwMs02Wj8JtnxIiiwGUZNffibTAy9rfomnF3R482ub6i3EXY9KnFWfL5mjX1rMKccAfX4hgjWm53CtJpEFHbTTy4l3zNdjvzD0tsJ7FudbR6-G0aZnbvbJFwdYsTp8YWv4NPTbuxUOZwmpQRoJ2Nsd7rmD6JFQcv-OcNc7bSljV1d1CggJL1LfKVSGNt77v2zUOwazMOd7rm9XVP3ZYwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virgin Islands Legislature","date","2025-07-10T18:51:28Z","article","Jean Pierre Oriole, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, told the Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance on July 10 that DPNR’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget totals $146,949,100, composed of $7,009,487 in general fund support, $10,861,427 in non‑appropriated local funds and $129,078,186 in federal grants.

Oriole told the 36th Legislature that roughly $100 million — about 77% of the department’s federal funds — are pass‑through awards for land acquisition and infrastructure that do not support departmental operations. He also outlined two supplemental requests needed to avoid layoffs and reopen library services: $575,143 to support six months of funding for 13 positions in the permits division and $1,416,159 to fund the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums for a full year. Both are requests to the executive branch and legislature, not approved actions.

Why it matters: DPNR manages permitting, coastal and watershed projects, historic sites, libraries, territorial parks and natural‑resource programs that rely heavily on federal awards. Senators pressed the department on shortfalls that could interrupt services — from building inspections to library reopenings — and on delay risks tied to federal reimbursements and internal vacancies.

Major budget and program details
- Personnel and core operating split: The FY2026 general fund request of $7,009,487 is unchanged from FY2025 and is allocated as $4,894,087 for personnel and fringe (61 positions), $238,302 for supplies, $1,271,514 for other services and charges, and $605,584 for utilities. DPNR reported 151 active employees across 12 divisions as of June 30, 2025.
- Federal grants: Federal awards total $129,078,186 for FY2026. Oriole said capital outlay under federal grants is budgeted at $29,320,449 and other services and charges at $87,276,800. About $50 million of recent inflows are for water, wastewater and related infrastructure projects to be implemented by WAPA and the Waste Management Authority.
- Non‑appropriated local funds: DPNR projects $10,861,427 from fees, fines and rentals. Collections reported as of May 31, 2025 were $3,435,196; total non‑appropriated collections in FY2024 were $8,452,461.

Division initiatives highlighted by Oriole
- Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning: Advance the comprehensive land and water use plan and propose zoning law amendments (sections 2‑25, 2‑28, 2‑35, 2‑40, 2‑42), provide zoning training and produce a visual user guide for residents and developers.
- Coastal Zone Management: Use an approximately $22 million NOAA award to advance priority watershed projects and complete design and implementation phases; pursue permitting enhancements to align earth‑change reviews across divisions.
- Environmental Enforcement and Protection: Launch electronic boating registration “ecards,” equip field officers with tablets and digital forms, and transition permitting to the Municity e‑permitting platform; DEP continues to work to remove a federal “high risk” designation that limits reimbursement flexibility.
- Fish and Wildlife: Expand facilities and outdoor resilience centers, renovate the Red Hook office, repurpose the former Elena Christian Junior High School as a hatchery, and submit the updated State Wildlife Action Plan electronically to broaden federal funding eligibility.
- Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM): Anticipate reopening the Doctor Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library and other facilities after FEMA‑funded repairs; DLAM seeks supplemental staffing to restore territory‑wide services and noted the Institute of Museum and Library Services federal office closure in April 2025 affected future federal support.
- Territorial parks and protected areas: Advance a comprehensive conservation plan (Act 86‑09 cited by the department), develop management plans for acquired properties and expand public engagement; post planned park maps online at dpnr.vi.gov/parks.

Staffing, allotments and vendor payments
- Vacancies and staffing: Oriole said the department has 151 active employees and reported roughly 60 vacancies across divisions; several senators pressed on enforcement officer shortages and the need for on‑the‑job training or cadet programs to sustain patrol capacity. The permits division reported about 20 inspectors and the department estimated a need of about 25 inspectors plus more plan reviewers to handle increasing permit flows.
- Allotments and arrears: April Henry, director of business and administration, told senators DPNR has received nine monthly allotments but was missing the tenth, eleventh and twelfth allotments (estimated shortfall ~ $2.1 million); outstanding obligations as of July 2 were $827,994.46. Henry said some invoices stall at the Department of Finance after DPNR approves them.
- Supplemental requests: Oriole characterized Supplemental Request #1 ($575,143) as necessary to fund 13 permit positions for six months and Supplemental Request #2 ($1,416,159) to fully staff DLAM; he said without the library supplement, several libraries could remain closed or underused.

Federal grants, reimbursements and DEP high‑risk designation
Oriole and staff said DPNR has increased business and administrative capacity to manage federal awards, but they flagged ongoing constraints: DEP remains under a federal “high risk” designation that complicates reimbursement, particularly for salary allocations requiring a time‑accounting “true up.” Oriole said DPNR hired external accounting contractors and increased grant administration staff to reduce reimbursement delays and recover prior draws. Senators repeatedly pressed for clarity on which grants are at risk and how DPNR is handling expiring awards and extensions.

Technology and permitting
DPNR said Municity e‑permitting has launched in phases (permits, some divisions live) and plans remain to add Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife and SHPO; Oriole and staff said roll‑out delays were driven by staff turnover and the need for division point persons. DPNR plans to add plan‑review automation and a plan‑review tool to improve processing times and accountability.

Libraries and cultural programs
Oriole stressed DLAM’s role in early literacy and STEM education; DLAM plans partnerships with NASA for educational programming and expects to modernize exhibits at Fort Christian and Fort Frederick funded in part by FEMA and US EDA grants. The department said federal library support reductions mean local funding or supplemental appropriation is needed to sustain digital subscriptions and outreach programs.

Concerns raised by senators
Senators asked about: the 52% general fund spend rate reported in a recent post‑audit, reasons for a projected 23% increase in utilities (partly tied to bringing renovated buildings online), why certain vendor invoices remain pending for months, the status of FEMA‑funded capital projects and the risks from potential federal budget cuts to programs that fund DPNR work. Several senators urged creative hiring strategies (cadet/auxiliary models) to maintain enforcement staffing and asked for clearer breakdowns of which vacancies are federally funded vs. locally funded.

What DPNR called accomplishments
Oriole pointed to completed work including adoption of the comprehensive land and water use plan, launch of electronic permitting for some functions, $70 million in conserved/green space funding secured, upgrades to enforcement vessels, $8 million in subrecipient historic disaster recovery agreements executed and ongoing public engagement programs such as Science Saturdays.

Where things stand
The presentation was informational: DPNR submitted its FY2026 request and two supplemental requests; neither supplemental was approved during the hearing. Senators signaled bipartisan interest in stabilizing vendor payments, supporting permit and enforcement staffing, and prioritizing library reopenings, while urging DPNR to accelerate federal grant closeouts and reimbursement packages.

Looking ahead
Committee members requested follow‑up material including: a breakdown of the 60 vacancies by funding source; the age profile of outstanding vendor obligations; a list of expiring federal awards and extension requests; and specifics on staffing funded by the supplemental requests. Oriole said some project closings (trust/park acquisitions) were expected before Labor Day and pledged continued engagement with the committee on supplementals and grant management.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07-10-2025 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance","oneSentenceSummary","Jean Pierre Oriole, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, told the Legislature’s budget committee on July 10 that DPNR’s recommended fiscal 2026 budget totals $146,949,100 and that the department needs two supplemental appropriations — $575,143 for the permits division and $1,416,159 for libraries — to avoid position cuts and restore territory‑wide library services.","taxTitle","Committees\t, Legislative, Virgin Islands, International","taxId",17312,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6519470,"Senate hearing considers doubling container tax; OMB projects $4.1M in new revenue, debate over VIWMA split",818,12440000,13258000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5356387-4c59de05a7e05825f9bf0e71a2f94789&start=12440&end=13258","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5356387-4c59de05a7e05825f9bf0e71a2f94789/thumbnail_12440000.jpg","/articles/6519470/Senate-hearing-considers-doubling-container-tax-OMB-projects-41M-in-new-revenue-debate-over-VIWMA-split","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519470-34d780f0525b2aa286e763d145634188/orig.mp4?Expires=1775312658&Signature=mvTzIT0xJM6k4Et4hmzwl1e3-XeAv9FhcUr4HO7tnsba16zn-l8nu2KQ2SVofgdRgabGKr9wBmUK8HsyvTiPtuNsJTG8~R2~MbEv8lXmuQyJJx0hxyCBXHoTBSWvMLsniQC9Zti6Qqtpveevs6lqd9YQ8sg9Be7-UXW4FDxqfUdOe1kyyWu7E8OsddsgYADqk8MdYye9jxSQ~q74xoTI-MU~B33qPfaclnOXTaFqxTazt8F5lZqRQ3eTmC0LE~YBCfDmeOCS~fcJWlZscRoqCNNa5ofRUSPstEaRDMWbKCrNjZzVcHSt5qqhsxv7EF5pNlUJXUniMiRNmZ2Ht6Uf9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Angel L. Balquez Jr. presented bill 36‑0039 to the Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance on July 10, proposing to modernize the Virgin Islands container tax by increasing length‑based flat rates and adding a fee for 45‑foot flat‑rack containers. Balquez framed the measure as a modest, predictable way to raise revenue for port operations, road and landfill impacts and anti‑litter programs, contrasting the territory’s flat, length‑based approach with neighboring jurisdictions that levy value‑based tariffs and higher layered taxes on imports.

What the bill would do
- Raise the container tax for units up to 39 feet from $50 to $100; raise the 40‑foot rate from $100 to $200.
- Add a new fee for 45‑foot flat‑rack containers (text of amendment cites $205 in one read‑out provided during testimony).
- Introduce two small administrative fees: a $25 documentation/processing fee per container to fund oversight (salaries and O&M) and a $3 recordation/technology fee per container to fund digital recordation improvements (OMB proposal).

Revenue projections and distribution
Julia Reimer, director of the Office of Management and Budget, presented an analysis based on Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 2024 import data (19,315 containers total: 3,142 under 39 feet; 16,173 at 40 feet). OMB projected:
- Revenue from adjusted container taxes: $3,454,800 annually
- Documentation processing fee: $483,000
- Recordation technology fee: $58,000
- Total estimated annual revenue: approximately $4,100,000

Distribution dispute: OMB recommended a 75% general fund / 25% anti‑litter and beautification split (the latter to support a youth summer employment program). The bill’s sponsor and the Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) sought a different allocation: VIWMA requested a 50% allocation to the anti‑litter/beautification fund, split internally with 25% targeted to trash removal and 25% to a territorial anti‑litter summer program administered by VIWMA.

Positions on the record
- Office of Management and Budget (Julia Reimer): Supported modernizing the tax and adding the small fees; recommended a 75/25 split in favor of the general fund to preserve government fiscal flexibility and to fund broader priorities (OMB also proposed the small $25 and $3 administrative fees to underwrite oversight and technology).
- Bureau of Internal Revenue (Joel A. Lee): Reported historical container counts and said the bureau can implement the change and update systems within the statutory post‑enactment window.
- Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (Daryl Griffith, interim executive director/CFO): Supported the bill and asked for a 50/50 distribution of the added revenue (or legislative allocations to VIWMA) so the authority could reduce an accounts‑payable backlog that exceeded $20 million and expand household collection and convenience center upgrades. Griffith said adopting container revenues plus a pending garbage‑collection fee at the Public Services Commission would materially improve VIWMA’s finances.
- Tropical Shipping (written testimony, Nisha O'Bain): Asked committee to note that container fees are a cost of trade borne by shipping lines that will be recovered in transport charges; company noted it supports the territory but urged the committee to consider impacts on customers and that flat racks are instruments of trade.

Senators’ concerns and committee discussion
Committee members discussed consumer impact, competitiveness, and how much of the tax ultimately would be passed on to shoppers. Sponsors argued that the per‑container increase is modest when spread across thousands of units in a container and noted the territory’s flat rate remains comparatively low versus neighboring nations’ value‑based tariffs. Several senators voiced support for directing a substantial share to VIWMA to address urgent trash‑collection needs; others — including OMB — warned that routing too much revenue outside the general fund reduces legislative flexibility and may reduce incentives for VIWMA to address its structural revenue issues.

Next steps
No vote took place. The committee heard testimony from OMB, BIR and VIWMA and received written testimony from Tropical Shipping; Crowley Shipping had been invited but did not submit testimony at the hearing. The measure will return for further committee consideration, and staff requested time to model downstream consumer impacts and implementation steps for the BIR and for ports and carriers to prepare paperwork and IT updates.","Senator Angel Balquez introduced bill 36‑0039 to raise the flat container tax (20‑foot to $100; 40‑foot to $200) and add a 45‑foot flat‑rack fee; OMB and BIR presented revenue projections and the Waste Management Authority backed a partial share for anti‑litter/collection programs while shippers urged caution.","actionData","errors"]

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DPNR presents $146.9M FY2026 budget, seeks $2M in supplemental funding for permits and libraries

Senate hearing considers doubling container tax; OMB projects $4.1M in new revenue, debate over VIWMA split