Senators Criticize VITEMA Officials Over Budget and Staffing Concerns

In a Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance meeting held on Tuesday, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency officials were taken to task over their budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 and related staffing issues.

VITEMA's proposed budget of $9,944,838, marking a slight increase from the previous fiscal year, drew intense scrutiny from lawmakers. The $9.9 million represents $6,359,725 from the general fund, $979,494 from the Emergency Services Fund and $2,605,618 in federal funds, according to VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen, who outlined the planned usage of these funds with an emphasis on equipment repairs, training emergency communications center operators, and transitioning to enhanced 911 services.

One of the VITEMA’s biggest challenges, Jashcen said, was finding and retaining top talent. "VITEMA continuously recruits qualified individuals to join our team,” he said, highlighting a recruitment fair held in March, which resulted in 17 offers of employment in the emergency communications centers on St. Croix and St. Thomas being made to qualified applicants. The 10 successful new hires who have already been onboarded are “thriving,” according to the director, while a second cohort began work on Tuesday, June 20. Despite the update, Jaschen says that turnover in the agency is high. “Many who are new to emergency management learn the fast-paced and stressful environment is not for them," he lamented. Another reason for high attrition is the competitive recruitment environment for highly-skilled workers. “VITEMA has suffered losses of key positions within the past six months. These losses are mainly attributed to career advancement opportunities in higher pay,” he said.

During questioning, Senator Angel Bolques asked about the VITEMA’s staffing issues, referring to a "massive exodus" at the agency and asked whether current vacancies were a result of this. Jaschen confirmed that departures were mainly from the 911 unit but assured the committee that the agency was making strides to fill these vacancies.

Bolques then delved into the matter of salary raises for employees. In response, Merlinda Philomene, deputy director of HR and labor relations, clarified that "the 911 call center operators have received salary increases as of April of this year for going back to fiscal year 21."

A seeming decrease in requested funding amounts under various category headings also drew Bolques’s attention. “I am sure my colleagues and I are not quite comfortable with the Emergency Management Agency potentially not having funds during a hurricane season," he noted, asking Jaschen about the reasoning for these deductions and whether the agency was receiving sufficient federal funds to support its operations.