Health Department discusses progress, setbacks in revenue collections

ST. CROIX — The V.I. Health Department presented an operations update and testimony regarding its 2025 budget on Thursday afternoon.

The department’s proposed budget totals nearly $58.78 million. That includes a $26 million appropriation from the General Fund, $1.2 million from the Health Revolving Fund, almost $29.5 million from federal grants and $2.1 million in non-appropriated funds. As with other government agencies, the Health Department’s 2025 recommendation represents a decrease over the current fiscal year.

Despite a slight reduction in revenue collections over the previous fiscal year, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion testified to several positive trends across divisions. The department’s Environmental Health Division recorded a 10% increase in revenues collected from health permits and food handler’s permits, and the Outpatient Clinic Division reported a 13.25% increase.