DPNR Requests $146.9M Budget to Sustain Key Services, Avoid Layoffs

The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources has submitted a $146.9 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, along with two supplemental funding requests totaling $2.1 million, aimed at preserving essential services and avoiding layoffs in two of its most critical divisions, officials told senators Thursday.

The proposed budget includes roughly $7 million from the General Fund, $10.9 million in special non-appropriated local funds, and $129 million in federal grants. Of that federal amount, approximately $100 million is earmarked for land acquisition and infrastructure projects that do not directly support the department’s day-to-day operations.

DPNR currently employs 151 individuals across 12 divisions, including 83 classified, 1 general schedule, and 67 exempt employees. While 61 of these positions are funded by the General Fund, the remaining 102 rely on federal grants.

Despite efforts to strengthen staffing capacity, including competitive starting salaries and fellowship programs to attract new hires, DPNR continues to face ongoing human resource challenges, according to Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol.

“Without the additional funding we’re requesting, we won’t be able to support all of the salaries, the majority of which are inspectors,” Oriol said during Thursday’s Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations hearing, referencing the department’s first supplemental request of $575,143 for the Division of Permits. Many of those inspectors are directly tied to disaster recovery efforts. “This would have a direct impact on recovery projects across the territory,” he added.