Human Services Defends $68.3M Budget Request for FY ’25

One of the largest agencies in the V.I. government took its turn before the 35th Legislature Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance on Tuesday. The team from the Human Services Department and Commissioner Averil George gave a detailed presentation defending their fiscal year 2025 budget request of $68.3 million.

As the third largest agency in the executive branch, Human Services provides support for about one-third of the territory’s population, George said. Its 651 employees will be asked to serve the young, the elderly, disabled and homeless individuals, and others with 7.7 percent less funding than they had in FY 2024.

Maintaining staff levels in critical areas became a major topic of discussion throughout the three-and-a-half-hour budget hearing. George told the committee there were 68 vacancies in all, five of which were paid for through the V.I. government’s General Fund.

Several committee members questioned the prospects. “How many can you realistically see your agency filling?” said Sen. Javan James.