OCB Requests $1.4 Million Budget to Address Rising Collective Bargaining Demands
OCB’s budget includes significant funds for personnel, fringe benefits, and operational costs amid increasing workload and staffing shortages
2024-06-28 13:35:41 - VI News Staff
The Office of Collective Bargaining is requesting $1,375,564 for its FY2025 budget to allow for the continued representation of the Government of the Virgin Islands in all collective bargaining proceedings.
Joss Springette, the GVI’s chief negotiator, on Thursday provided a breakdown of the budget, which includes $772,895 for personnel services, $330,716 for fringe benefits, and $32,000 for supplies. OCB’s utilities for the upcoming fiscal year are estimated at $13,000, paid through the Single Payer Utility Fund managed by the Department of Finance. Another $226,453 is earmarked for the Offices “other services and charges” category.
It’s a major jump from the $192,500 appropriated for the same purpose in FY2024. Nikima Richards, OCB’s Finance Specialist clarified that it’s simply a realignment of funds. In FY2024, $68,000 for projects including the re-tiling of their St. Croix was listed under the Office’s capital outlay, instead of being listed under the “other services and charges” category. Senator Donna Frett-Gregory was bewildered by the decision not to address the issue sooner..