The Department of Property and Procurement may do a feasibility study to see if it makes financial sense to sell government properties to help with budget problems, if legislation approved in the Finance Committee on Wednesday becomes law.
The measure [Bill 30-01016] sponsored by Sen. Sammuel Sanes and Judi Buckley simply authorizes such a study and sets a deadline of Sept. 30 to report the results of any study, if the study is done.
Property and Procurement Commissioner Lynn Millin Maduro testified that a study would be useful, but the bill lacks funding and the time frame is not feasible, she said.
One of the problems is that some government land is improperly documented, going back to property transferred to the V.I. government from the Danish government, so extensive title searches would be needed. Some of the property has special covenants affecting transfer of title and what the land can be used for too, she said.
As examples, Maduro cited 100 acres on Water Island that the federal government deeded with a requirement that it be used for housing, and land on St. Croix that is permanently restricted to agricultural use.
Other properties may have historic value or be more readily restored by the government than by a private party, she said. But some government land may be ripe for sale and the government needs to look for sources of revenue too, she said.
"The bill is proposing to do something that needs to be done," Maduro said. "I don’t think the administration is opposed to this," as long as it can be funded, she said.
Sen. Myron Jackson said he opposed selling public lands because they are irreplaceable public assets, often of historical and cultural importance, and were an important legacy to preserve for future generations.
"I don’t support selling government land – period," Jackson said.
Voting to send the bill on for further consideration were Sens. Donald Cole, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Clarence Payne and Clifford Graham. Jackson voted nay. Buckley and O’Reilly were absent.
The committee held a bill to authorize a feasibility study regarding a police science training facility at the sponsor’s request. Sanes sponsored the bill.
