Victim services agency seeks modest general‑fund boost and flags unexplained transfers from restitution fund

The House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 12 heard budget testimony from the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, whose director told lawmakers the agency is seeking a modest general‑fund increase and a 5% administrative allowance to sustain staffing and grant oversight.

"We have the smallest ask of anyone," said Jennifer Pullman, the Centers director, in opening remarks to the committee. She told members the Center received just over $1.7 million in general funds (mostly pass‑through) and relies principally on federal and special funds that have declined in recent years.

Pullman said the administration request included a roughly 3% general‑fund increase (about $145,357) and an additional $95,854 the Center is asking for as a 5% administrative allocation on roughly $1.7 million in grants to cover essential financial and program oversight. "We're not asking for new positions," she said; the money would support salaries and operating costs threatened by falling special‑fund revenue.

Carol Broshy, the Centers director of finance and administration, told the committee she discovered recurring transfers of about $30,000 in several years that were moved out of the restitution fund into other accounts (reported as transfers into Labor/Finance in committee testimony). Broshy said she found no memoranda of understanding or documentation showing how those transfers were authorized or spent and that the transfers have totaled about $310,000 to date. "It's certainly money that shouldn't ... be going and staying in the restitution fund," she said.

Committee members suggested tracing the transfers through single audits or asking the state auditor's office to review Department of Labor and Finance records. One lawmaker identified in the transcript as Representative Squirel said they were actively trying to get answers and that staff would follow up.

Pullman urged the panel to consider legislative clarification of how fines and fees are collected and distributed, citing confusion among offenders about what they have already paid and how fees are prioritized. She offered to work with the Judiciary Committee on language during the miscellaneous judiciary bill cycle to study collection priorities and reporting.

The committee did not take a vote. Members pressed staff to follow up on the transfers and indicated interest in proposals that would clarify fee collection and administrative compensation for grant oversight.