PSC budget shortfall: reserve bridges depleted, staff say complaint phone lines and vendor issues persist
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Public Services Commission officials told the Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee that the commission's current-year finances are strained by unpaid assessments and by delays in appropriation allotments.
PSC testimony put the commission's current fiscal-year budget at $2,079,292.52 and said collections to date totaled $622,889.72, leaving an unpaid portion of just over $1.3 million. Staff said the commission has been using prior-year reserves to bridge expenses and that those reserves have been largely depleted; testimony estimated reserves historically were $2.5 million to $4.5 million but were roughly $400,000'$490,004.90 as of June (transcript contains multiple figures).
The PSC said the proposed 2027 budget is about $315,008.38 more than the 2026 budget and that it included wage increases for staff; testimony said the commission has 14 employees in total (with a later exchange referencing 13). Staff said there were no known litigation payouts pending to their knowledge.
The committee asked how a member of the public files a complaint; PSC staff suggested contacting the complaint officer, calling the St. Thomas number (778-776-1291) or St. Croix number (778-6010), visiting the PSC website (psc.vi.gov) or using the PSC online portal; offices were described as open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., five days a week.
Staff also described vendor-payment delays tied to implementation of the GVI Buy procurement system and said the commission is using both the Tyler Munis ERP and GVI Buy, which has created onboarding delays for some smaller vendors. PSC staff recommended assistance to help vendors register and bid in GVI Buy so contracted vendors can be paid in a timely fashion.
Why it matters: The combination of unpaid assessments, depleted reserves and procurement-system delays constrains the PSC's ability to carry out regulatory functions, pay contractors, and maintain staff morale.
What happens next: PSC staff said they will continue communication with the committee, provide requested documents and work with central staff and procurement to reduce vendor-payment delays. The committee adjourned without taking formal votes on budget modifications.
PSC testimony put the commission's current fiscal-year budget at $2,079,292.52 and said collections to date totaled $622,889.72, leaving an unpaid portion of just over $1.3 million. Staff said the commission has been using prior-year reserves to bridge expenses and that those reserves have been largely depleted; testimony estimated reserves historically were $2.5 million to $4.5 million but were roughly $400,000'$490,004.90 as of June (transcript contains multiple figures).
The PSC said the proposed 2027 budget is about $315,008.38 more than the 2026 budget and that it included wage increases for staff; testimony said the commission has 14 employees in total (with a later exchange referencing 13). Staff said there were no known litigation payouts pending to their knowledge.
The committee asked how a member of the public files a complaint; PSC staff suggested contacting the complaint officer, calling the St. Thomas number (778-776-1291) or St. Croix number (778-6010), visiting the PSC website (psc.vi.gov) or using the PSC online portal; offices were described as open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., five days a week.
Staff also described vendor-payment delays tied to implementation of the GVI Buy procurement system and said the commission is using both the Tyler Munis ERP and GVI Buy, which has created onboarding delays for some smaller vendors. PSC staff recommended assistance to help vendors register and bid in GVI Buy so contracted vendors can be paid in a timely fashion.
Why it matters: The combination of unpaid assessments, depleted reserves and procurement-system delays constrains the PSC's ability to carry out regulatory functions, pay contractors, and maintain staff morale.
What happens next: PSC staff said they will continue communication with the committee, provide requested documents and work with central staff and procurement to reduce vendor-payment delays. The committee adjourned without taking formal votes on budget modifications.
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