The Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation told the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance it is balancing facilities needs, youth programs and delayed vendor payments.
Appearing Thursday before the committee, Commissioner Vincent L. Roberts outlined a proposed $10,029,992 General Fund budget for fiscal year 2027. He said the department is managing federal grants and capital projects while trying to maintain services across the territory.
The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee also requested $500,000 in government funding, saying it relies on public support to sustain 25 sports federations and elite athletes competing internationally.
Roberts said most of the department’s budget is tied to fixed costs, with about 54 percent, or $5.38 million, going to personnel and 32 percent, or $3.29 million, covering fringe benefits. He said utilities are another major expense. The agency is split into three divisions responsible for parks and facilities, sports programming, and administrative operations.
Director of Business and Finance Carol Peters reported that the department has spent more than $3.1 million on personnel so far in fiscal 2026 and collected about $328,856 in revenue from park rentals and related fees.
She said roughly $52,000 is owed to vendors, with some invoices as old as 240 days, and that payments are often delayed while awaiting processing at the Department of Finance. Peters said staff regularly submit prioritized payments, but only a fraction are processed each week.
Roberts said he has been speaking directly with vendors and that “they understand it is out of our hands,” because the outstanding bills are waiting to be processed by the Department of Finance.
The department is responsible for distributing $1.4 million in grants to 38 nonprofit organizations under Act 9035. Roberts said only $100,000 has been released so far, with six applications in process and more than $1.3 million still unclaimed. He said 31 nonprofits have not yet requested their funds, despite outreach from the department.
Several lawmakers said the large unspent balance is troubling given concerns about youth violence and the need for more structured activities for young people. Chair Novelle E. Francis Jr. said the committee would continue to use markup and oversight to press fiscal agencies to move the money so programs can operate.
Youth programming drew attention from senators, who linked recreation funding to efforts to reduce crime. Officials said summer programs are serving hundreds of children across the territory, including 387 campers in St. Thomas-St. John, 177 in St. Croix and about 56 in St. John, along with baseball, football and basketball activities.
Roberts said the agency manages several non-appropriated funds, including revenues from park fees and sports registrations, which help support facility maintenance and small capital projects. He said the department has collected more than $232,000 in facility rentals so far this year and expects additional revenue before year’s end.
Peters also outlined more than $3.4 million in federal Economic Development Administration grants for projects including beach restoration on St. John, fencing improvements on St. Croix and territory-wide playground upgrades.
Roberts said more than $800,000 has already been spent upgrading 12 playgrounds across the territory, with remaining funds earmarked for benches, shade structures and other improvements.
He said the Oppenheimer Beach project on St. John is fully designed but may require “an evaluation from a coastal engineering specialist due to the significant shoreline erosion that has occurred at the site,” that could force relocation or demolition of the structure.
On St. Croix, he said construction of the Estate Profit Community Center is underway. On St. John, officials said a long-planned community center remains about 80 percent designed, after the plans had to be revised when FEMA declined to approve the original drawings.
Roberts said the Legislature reassigned $5 million for improvements to the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix, with about $2.7 million committed to purchasing a racing surface and completing design work.
On St. Thomas, Peters said utility costs for the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack have reached about $175,000 as of May 2026, costs that were not originally budgeted. After senators questioned whether other funds should cover those expenses, the Legislature’s legal counsel advised that racetrack maintenance funds under territorial law can be used to pay utility costs.
The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee also testified, requesting $500,000 for fiscal year 2027. President John Abramson Jr. said the committee supports 25 sports federations and relies on government and international funding to operate.
Treasurer Brigitte Berry said the committee has spent more than $720,000 so far this fiscal year, mostly on travel and competition expenses, and provides about $9,000 per month in scholarships for athletes preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games. She said it also funds training and development programs.
Abramson said a planned multi-sport complex in Nazareth, St. Thomas, intended as a permanent office and shelter, is on hold pending FEMA approval over access issues.
