{"id":36430,"date":"2024-09-26T23:40:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T04:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=36430"},"modified":"2024-09-26T19:53:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T00:53:37","slug":"staff-shortages-hindering-property-and-procurements-ability-to-collect-payments-commissioner-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/staff-shortages-hindering-property-and-procurements-ability-to-collect-payments-commissioner-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Staff Shortages Hindering Property and Procurement’s Ability to Collect Payments, Commissioner Says"},"content":{"rendered":"

United States Virgin Islands<\/p>\n

With a portfolio exceeding $1.2 billion in insured government property, DPP faces significant challenges in asset management, collections, fiscal control, and procurement due to understaffing and recent resignations<\/h3>\n

Like several other departments and agencies within central government, the Department of Property and Procurement is facing critical staff shortages as it prepares for the new fiscal year.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur budget request supports the filling of 10 new and vacant positions,\u201d explained Commissioner Lisa Alejandro, as she defended an operating budget request of $20,850,998.<\/p>\n

The department\u2019s vacancies include a position for a program manager, who DPP expects will \u201cbe instrumental in improving operations in the fiscal unit, which is currently understaffed.\u201d It\u2019s a move that will bring DPP closer to improving unit productivity, Commissioner Alejandro told lawmakers during Thursday\u2019s meeting of the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance. Hiring new staff is crucial, as DPP lost 8 employees in the current fiscal year \u2013 two retirements, one dismissal and five resignations.<\/p>\n

Understaffing is also impacting the asset management unit, described by Ms. Alejandro as the \u201ccornerstone of our operation.\u201d The unit oversees the acquisition, use, control and protection, maintenance, inventory and disposal of all fixed assets owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands. \u201cBecause of the small team of four employees, and historically, lack of resources, the unit has been unable to undertake its full responsibilities,\u201d the commissioner told legislators.<\/p>\n

The Department of Property and Procurement currently manages a portfolio of insured government-owned property that exceeds $1.2 billion. On rental properties, the DPP has collected $3.5 million of $4.4 million owed in FY2024. With only one month left in the fiscal year, lawmakers wondered whether the department will be able to complete collections \u2014 including outstanding balances from delinquent tenants.<\/p>\n

Again, the realities of inadequate staff were brought to the fore. The fiscal division that holds that responsibility \u201cis really understaffed,\u201d explained Ms. Alejandro. \u201cWe had one employee that was pushing collections \u2026[so] we have seen an increase since that time. \u201cHowever, again, the shortages in staff severely impacted our ability to keep that momentum going.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are three vacancies within that unit, including a fiscal control officer and administrative assistant. The last administrator retired after 33 years of service at the department, while the financial officer has resigned. \u201cWe are in the process with OMB of bringing on one of the GVI Fellows. He shadowed the now-departed financial control officer, \u201cso he has a lot of knowledge in reconciling and assisting with the budget,\u201d Ms. Alejandro noted. The Fellow, described as an \u201casset,\u201d may join the staff complement by mid-September.<\/p>\n

\u200cOther divisions stymied by staffing difficulties include the procurement department where a senior contract administrator is needed. In the property division, DPP is seeking a property inspector and is working to replace their legal advisor as well.<\/p>\n

While the Department of Property and Procurement continues to work with its partners to fill crucial vacancies, Commissioner Alejandro says they are \u201cexploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency by automating simple tasks, leaving more complex and creative tasks to our employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Image: pexels-karolina-<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

United States Virgin Islands With a portfolio exceeding $1.2 billion in insured government property, DPP faces significant challenges in asset management, collections, fiscal control, and procurement due to understaffing and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":36439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[250],"tags":[71,125,284],"class_list":["post-36430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-procurement","tag-public-procurement","tag-united-states-virgin-islands"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386341-scaled-e1727397833138.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-9tA","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30452,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/rules-and-judiciary-sends-10-bills-property-and-procurement-nomination-to-full-body\/","url_meta":{"origin":36430,"position":0},"title":"Rules and Judiciary sends 10 bills, Property and Procurement nomination to full body","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"October 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"United States Virgin Islands Property and Procurement Acting Commissioner Lisa Alejandro is one step closer to dropping \u201cacting\u201d from her job title after a Thursday meeting of the Rules and Judiciary Committee. 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