Legislature questions Lieutenant Governor office staffing, appraisal shortfall and collections

The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance questioned leaders from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor about staffing shortfalls, property‑assessment coverage and slow use of appropriated funds during a July 23 budget hearing.

Senators were told the lieutenant governor’s general‑fund budget supports 91 positions, of which 10 were vacant. A major focus of questioning was the Real Property Tax Division’s appraisal staff: officials said 883 properties had been inspected recently while the territory’s parcel inventory exceeds 60,000, and that the office is short‑staffed.

“Right now in St. Croix there are five appraisers. We only have three in St. Thomas,” Tax Assessor Lawrence A. Romney told the committee. Romney said the office needs roughly 20 appraisers to complete mass appraisal work and to improve assessment coverage. He described recent hires as making “an impact” on properties that had not reflected improvements on the tax rolls.

Committee members pressed on causes of underuse of general‑fund appropriations; staff described much of the budget as personnel and fringe, and said some positions were funded in 2026 plans rather than filled in 2025. Acting Chief of Staff/legal counsel Nadia Harrigan said some vacancies were being filled and that the office had adjusted job specifications and planned apprenticeship and outreach to strengthen recruitment and retention.

Senators raised compensation concerns, saying the lieutenant governor’s office collects significant revenue and competes with private employers for skilled staff. Senator Maurice James noted repeated departures and cited at least one employee recruited away by a title company. Harrigan said the office plans to begin exit interviews and more proactive retention conversations.

Tax collector Brent Leatham briefed the panel on delinquent collections, saying about $100 million in property taxes was delinquent at the time of the hearing and that staff were promoting payment plans and online options to prevent escalation to foreclosure or auction. Leatham described efforts to increase steady, year‑round collections through improved public communication and payment plans that freeze interest and penalties once a plan begins.

Senators also asked about the Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulations. Director Glendina Matthew said the division has a backlog of financial‑statement reviews caused by staffing shortages and is prioritizing active companies; she confirmed the office would bring a legislator’s letter about bank holiday pay practices to the Banking Board for review.

Committee members pressed staff about physical workplace conditions and morale. Acting chief Harrigan said mold and high mold counts in an office had adversely affected morale and that moving employees to safer space helped. Senators asked about ongoing repairs and timelines for upgrades to Government House and other facilities; staff said FEMA‑funded projects and local repairs were in progress or under procurement.

Across the hearing, senators called for faster hiring of appraisers and more transparent timelines for construction and contracts, and they emphasized the revenue upside of improving assessment coverage.

Ending: Officials said they would return with more granular staffing and funding plans, and the committee recessed before taking up the next agency.