VITEMA budget hearing scheduled for June 28

Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency Director Daryl Jaschen and members of the agency’s senior management team were scheduled to testify before the Senate Finance Committee on June 28, 2022, on the agency’s fiscal year 2023 executive budget request.

VITEMA proposed a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9,936,053, including $6,308,855 from the General Fund, $2,779,094 in federal funding and $848,105 in Emergency Service funding for 141 employees.

According to the written testimony, the agency cited the restoration of more than half of the territory’s 44 tsunami sirens, a revised Territorial Emergency Operations Plan, implementation of the Rapid S.O.S. system for 911 dispatchers, repairs to the St. Thomas Emergency Operations Center, and completion of active-shooter exercises.

The agency said its fiscal year 2023 goals included renewing its collective bargaining agreement, maintaining its Emergency Management Accreditation Program status, completing the hiring process for a Functional Disabilities Coordinator in each district, and filling Payroll Manager and Administrative Secretary positions.

VITEMA said it also oversees the 911 emergency system and the Virgin Islands Office of Homeland Security.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/vitema-budget-hearing-set-for-june-28/