COMMITTEE CONSIDERS BUDGET REQUESTS FROM TOURISM, INTERNAL REVENUE, AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION - Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact News | Press Releases COMMITTEE CONSIDERS BUDGET REQUESTS FROM TOURISM, INTERNAL REVENUE, AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION Published: Jul 14, 2022 Search for: ST. THOMAS – The Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Kurt Vialet continued budget hearings today, in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. The day’s agenda consisted of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget proposals for the Department of Tourism, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Public Services Commission. Joseph Boschulte, the Commissioner of the Department of Tourism delivered testimony. According to Boschulte, the recommended budget for the Department is $30,097,941. This is a 17 percent increase of the FY 2022 budget, which was $25,715,632. There are 38 total positions. Of these positions, 25 were unclassified and filled. One position was unclassified and vacant.  There are 9 unclassified new positions. There are three classified filled positions. Joel A. Lee, the Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue delivered testimony. According to Lee, the recommended budget totals $13,176,237 for FY 2023.  This is a decrease from FY 2022, which totaled $16,001,332. There are 153 positions. 101 positions are on St. Thomas. 50 of the positions are on St. Croix. Two positions are on St. John.  There are 25 unclassified filled positions. There is one unclassified vacant position. There are 104 classified filled positions. There are 15 classified vacant positions. There are 8 new classified positions. Within this fiscal year, there were 10 new hires, 16 promotions, and three resignations. There are 18 vacancies, funded at 50% to account for the practical time for hiring in the fiscal year. Donald G. Cole, the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission delivered testimony. The recommended budget for the department totals $2,080,332.  This represented an increase of .14% from FY 2022. There are 14 positions. There are 12 unclassified filled positions, and two unclassified vacant positions. The Public Services Commission is also overseen by a board of 5 voting members. It currently has a compliment of four voting members. It receives 100% of its funding through assessments from the utilities it regulates in accordance with Title 30, section 25a. Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Kurt Vialet, Marvin A. Blyden, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Janelle K. Sarauw, Samuel Carrión, Javan James, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Kenneth L. Gittens, and Genevieve R. Whitaker. #### Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. 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