The 16 St. Thomas-St. John projects Gov. Charles Turnbull has recommended to receive a share of $2.19 million in federal Community Development Block Grants were presented to the Senate Tuesday night.
"This year, like every year, we come before you in order to present and defend the projects the governor has recommended for funding. As with normal procedures, we have solicited proposals from every government agency and non-profit organization in the territory," said Lawrence Joshua, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources' CDBG program manager.
"Our system evaluates and scores each project in terms of need and feasibility," he added.
A total of $887,600 has been proposed for the two St. John projects and 14 St. Thomas projects; $877,000 is suggested for 21 St. Croix projects. The grant total is $2,194,000, but $438,000 of it is reserved by DPNR for the CDBG program's administration and management costs.
Sen. Anne Golden urged Joshua to trim these administrative costs.
"We're spending half a million in staff that I believe should be spent on programs," Golden said.
The projects must meet one of the three following federal criteria: they must address public health and safety hazards, eliminate slums and blight or primarily serve persons of moderate and low income.
DPNR received 104 proposals requesting $16.5 million, Joshua said.
Almost all of the applicants who appeared told Senators they needed more funds than Government House recommended for them.
Robert Moorehead, director of Downstreet People, which is receiving $28,000 for its after school tutorial program, expressed the sentiment echoed by many of the applicants.
"Even though we appreciate the money we're getting, we can always use more just like everybody else," Moorehead said. "So, if you're reprogramming, send the money down street."
Sixty-five students participate in Downstreet's counseling, computer training program and steel orchestra.
The Family Resource Center has been offered $19,000 in Turnbull's proposal. FRC Executive Director Michal Rhymer, however, said the facility desperately needs twice that amount to pay rent on its downtown building and, "to help keep the doors of the center open."
"It's critical we receive this assistance. We already anticipate additional cuts from local government," Rhymer said. "We appreciate the $19,000 recommended. However, we must note we are facing a deficit of for fiscal year 2000 to pay rent… we are somehow hoping for a miracle," she said.
FRC counsels over 1,000 victims and perpetrators of crimes per year. It hosts support groups for woman and children who have been sexually, emotionally or physically abused, and counsels men and women who have abused their spouses or children, Rhymer said.
Joshua said FRC would probably get an additional $26,000 from the reprogramming of old, unused CDBG funds if the transfer is approved by the Legislature.
The directors of Kidscope, which counsels children who have been sexually abused, defended the $10,000 the organization has been given.
"Given the state of children in the territory… all of us understand, with the rise of sexual molestation, the need to service children and their families," Kidscope Director Dilsa Capdeville said.
In the 18 months Kidscope has been in operation, it has served over 300 children and their families, Capdeville said.
She also presented some staggering statistics on child abuse: in 1996, five cases of child abuse per day were reported; in 1997, eight to nine incidents of abuse occurred every day, she said .
The funding for other St. Thomas projects: $20,000 for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled after school program; $43,000 for the Caribbean Sailing School to rebuild a pier in Lindbergh Bay and to train low to moderate income youths; $15,000 to We From Upstreet's after school program; $34,390 for the Anglican Outreach Services' after school program; $10,000 to the Faith Christian Fellowship's academic summer enrichment program; and $35,000 to rehabilitate homes in the National Register District.
The more expensive St. Thomas projects include $200,000 to continue construction on the Savan Community Center, $218,050 to build a Pollyberg community center, $110,00 to rehabilitate the Red Cross facility on Kronprindsens Gade, and $100,000 to repair the Day Adult Education building.
Recommended for the two projects on St. John are $25,000 for the St. John Community Foundation's after school programs and $15,000 for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled's after school program.
Earlier in the hearing, some senators complained about how the projects are selected. Sen. Roosevelt David complained about a law passed in the 22nd Legislature, which mandates that CDBG funds be divided evenly between the St. Thomas-St. John District and St. Croix.
David said the law should be amended to increase St. John's share.
"Don't you think there would be more equity if we stipulate St. John gets 15 percent," he said.
"I think that is only fair," Joshua replied. He said, however, some years there are few applications from St. John.
"We don't get enough projects from St. John. We try to be lenient to fund some of them," Joshua said.
