USVI Public Records

Document text

TESTIMONY OF KEVIN MCCURDY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS, AND FINANCE BILL NO. 36-0221 FEBRUARY 3, 2026 ______________________________ Good Morning, Finance Committee Chairman, Senator Novelle E. Francis; Vice Chairman, Senator Marvin A. Blyden; Other Committee and Non-Committee Members present and the people of this territory listening and viewing today. I am Clarina Modeste Elliott, Executive Assistant Commissioner, testifying on behalf of Kevin Mccurdy, Commissioner of the Department of Finance. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Bill No. 36-0221. At the outset, I would like to commend the sponsor and this Committee for proactively addressing the persistent and serious issue of impaired driving, which continues to pose significant risks to public safety and imposes substantial human, operational, and economic costs on the Government of the Virgin Islands. Impaired driving affects not only the individuals involved but also strains public resources through increased emergency response costs, healthcare expenditures, roadway damage, and long-term public health impacts. This legislation represents a thoughtful and necessary step toward mitigating those costs while improving roadway safety for residents and visitors alike. Bill No. 36-0221 establishes a comprehensive Sobriety Checkpoint Program requiring the conduct of at least twelve sobriety checkpoints annually across the Territory. The bill further creates the Impaired Driving and Highway Sobriety Checkpoint Program Safety Fund, a dedicated, non-lapsing special fund within the Treasury. The legislation directs fines collected under Title 20, Section 493 into this Fund and establishes clear allocation percentages, operational standards, and reporting requirements. Collectively, these provisions are designed to strengthen impaired driving enforcement, support traffic control operations, and advance highway safety initiatives in a transparent and accountable manner. Bill No. 36-0221 establishes the Safety Fund as a dedicated, non-lapsing special fund administered by the Department of Finance in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety and other relevant agencies. The Department of Finance is fully prepared to fulfill its statutory responsibilities under this framework. The creation of a dedicated fund strengthens fiscal transparency by directly linking fine revenues to impaired driving enforcement and highway safety expenditures. This structure promotes targeted investments in enforcement operations, public awareness initiatives, and evidence-based safety programs while reducing reliance on General Fund appropriations for these specific purposes. To further enhance operational clarity and accountability, the Department of Finance recommends the use of formal interagency memoranda of understanding to clearly define roles, responsibilities, and data-sharing protocols among participating agencies. TESTIMONY OF KEVIN MCCURDY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS, AND FINANCE BILL NO. 36-0221 FEBRUARY 3, 2026 ______________________________ While the establishment of a dedicated fund provides an important and reliable funding mechanism, it is important to recognize that revenues derived from fine collections are inherently variable. Collections may fluctuate based on enforcement levels, adjudication timelines, compliance rates, and, importantly improvements in driver behavior. As impaired driving declines, revenues may also decrease. The Department of Finance fully supports the bill’s reporting requirements and commits to providing comprehensive, timely, and auditable reports to the Legislature, including: To ensure effective implementation and statutory compliance, the Department of Finance will establish appropriate accounting controls, fund codes, and reconciliation procedures consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and audit requirements. Successful implementation will require close coordination among the Department of Finance, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Office of Highway Safety, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the Judiciary to ensure: In closing, the Department of Finance wholeheartedly supports the intent and objectives of Bill No. 36-0221. This legislation represents a balanced, data-driven, and fiscally responsible approach to reducing impaired driving and enhancing highway safety throughout the Territory. With prudent revenue planning, robust internal controls, coordinated interagency implementation, and ongoing legislative oversight, the Impaired Driving and Highway Sobriety Checkpoint Program Safety Fund can serve as an effective and sustainable tool to save lives, reduce accidents, and promote safer roadways for all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, for the opportunity to present this testimony. I welcome any questions and look forward to continued collaboration on this critical public safety initiative.