TESTIMONY OF KEVIN MCCURDY
TESTIMONY OF KEVIN MCCURDY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS, CONSUMER PROTECTION MARCH 23, 2026 ______________________________ 1 Good Morning, Chairman Lewis, esteemed members of the Committee, and those listening and viewing. My name is Kevin McCurdy, and I am honored to appear before you today in support of Bill No. 36-0233. Joining me today are fellow Commission Member Julio Rhymer and Executive Director Raymond Williams. We have also submitted a presentation, which outlines the strategic, operational, and financial foundation supporting this legislation and the Lottery's continued evolution as a modern, revenue-generating enterprise. This legislation seeks to formally recognize the Virgin Islands Lottery as the autonomous entity it has effectively operated as for nearly 90 years. …
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TESTIMONY OF KEVIN MCCURDY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS, CONSUMER PROTECTION MARCH 23, 2026 ______________________________ 1 Good Morning, Chairman Lewis, esteemed members of the Committee, and those listening and viewing. My name is Kevin McCurdy, and I am honored to appear before you today in support of Bill No. 36-0233. Joining me today are fellow Commission Member Julio Rhymer and Executive Director Raymond Williams. We have also submitted a presentation, which outlines the strategic, operational, and financial foundation supporting this legislation and the Lottery's continued evolution as a modern, revenue-generating enterprise. This legislation seeks to formally recognize the Virgin Islands Lottery as the autonomous entity it has effectively operated as for nearly 90 years. The Lottery functions without reliance on central government appropriations, while consistently returning nearly 80 percent of its proceeds to the Territory, and supporting education, healthcare, the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS), veterans' services, and a wide range of community initiatives. By way of background, at our September 4, 2025, meeting, the Commission authorized the Executive Director to pursue the necessary statutory amendments. The resulting draft was prepared in consultation with legal counsel, thoroughly reviewed by the Commission, and submitted to the Governor's Office before being forwarded to the Legislature. This bill is the product of a deliberate and collaborative process. As you will notice in the submitted presentation, the Lottery operates in a revenue-driven environment that requires timely decision-making, responsiveness, and flexibility, conditions that are constrained by the current framework. Bill No. 36-0233 addresses these issues by clearly establishing the Lottery as an autonomous public corporation while maintaining full accountability to both the Governor and the Legislature. This structure aligns with proven models across multiple jurisdictions and is designed to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and maximize revenue. In closing, this legislation aligns the law with the Virgin Islands Lottery's operational realities and positions it to perform more effectively in the Territory's best interest. Thank you for your time and consideration.