Budget Committee Hears Education Department’s $186.7M Request Amid Staffing, Student Attendance Concerns

The Virgin Islands Department of Education is seeking $186.7 million for its fiscal year 2027 budget that would primarily fund employee salaries and benefits, school operating costs, and core educational services.

Testifying before the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance, Department of Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington said Tuesday the proposed $186,691,691 allocation represents a 4.11% increase over the department’s current $179.3 million budget.

The bulk of the request is dedicated to personnel costs, including $109.4 million for salaries and $60.4 million for fringe benefits. The remaining funds would support operations, utilities, supplies and capital projects. Wells-Hedrington said the department’s spending is largely driven by the cost of maintaining schools and paying employees.

Senators also questioned the proposed $7.5 million utilities allocation, nearly $1 million below the current-year $8.5 million allocation. Committee Chair Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. asked how the department could reduce utility funding amid inflation and rising energy costs. Wells-Hedrington said the figure reflects the Office of Management and Budget’s recommendation rather than an expectation of reduced usage, noting schools require continuous power for kitchens, cold storage and technology systems.