SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
REVISED 
 
Memorandum No. 25-0046 
 
To: 
 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Members 
 
 
The Honorable Marvin A. Blyden, Vice-Chairman 
 
 
The Honorable Dwayne M. DeGraff 
 
 
The Honorable Ray Fonseca 
 
 
The Honorable Hubert L. Frederick 
 
 
The Honorable Marise C. James 
 
 
The Honorable Kurt A. Vialet 
From:  
The Honorable Novelle E. Francis, Jr. 
 
 
 
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
Date:  
August 1, 2025 
 
Re: 
August 19, 2025 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Meeting  
 
 
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 
9:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley on St. Thomas to receive testimony on the Fiscal Year 2026 
Budget. 
 
Block I 
9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. 
 
Department of Tourism 
Invited Testifier: 
Jennifer Matarangas-King, Commissioner Nominee 
 
Block II 
12:00-2:00 P.M. 
 
Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance 
Invited Testifier: 
Craig F. Benjamin, Executive Director 
 
Block III 
2:00-5:00 P.M. 
  
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will receive testimony from the 
Government’s Financial Team on the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget for the Government of 
the Virgin Islands 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Kevin G. McCurdy, Commissioner 
Julio Rhymer, Director, Office of Management and Budget 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Budget Hearing 
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 
Page 2 
 
 
Joel Lee, Director, VI Bureau of Internal Revenue 
Brent Leerdam, Tax Collector, Office of the Lt. Governor 
Ludence Romney, Tax Assessor, Office of the Lt. Governor 
Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator, Office of Collective Bargaining 
Cindy L. Richardson, Director, Division of Personnel 
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery 
Dr. Haldene Davies, Director, Bureau of Economic Research