Legislature Holds 12 Mapp Nominees Over Pay Rates During Fiscal Crisis

i dont understand why anyone in the government is getting raises. especially not going from 85 thou to 125 thou , how does this make sense at all. in the meanwhile you have retired government employees who in some cases have been waiting 16 months ( as heard on the vibe this am ) to even get their first retirement check.

Good, at least the legislative body is paying attention and questioning. Maybe next they'll take a look at their own salaries and perks and readdress the people's very clear mandate of several years ago on that very subject. One can but hope!

VI Daily News - 12-Mar-2015

Police commissioner actually has lower salary than previous.

Outrageous. And in the middle of a fiscal crisis?

The question is, did the senators object because of the fiscal crisis, or because they are jealous and would like raises for them themselves?

I don't see anything wrong with the proposed new salaries for those positions, presuming they're going to the best candidates that can be had for that money. If these are 'governors buddies positions' that's a different story, but again that's why the senate had to confirm them in the first place. Compensation, given what's proposed, which is pretty reasonable, should not be a reason to hold it up IMO, only qualification.

I don't see anything wrong with the proposed new salaries for those positions, presuming they're going to the best candidates that can be had for that money.

I disagree. In light of our devastating fiscal crisis, it's an incredibly poor management decision.

And why on earth the Commissioner of Police's salary would be reduced by $15K is unfathomable.

Where do I send my resume?

I don't see anything wrong with the proposed new salaries for those positions, presuming they're going to the best candidates that can be had for that money.

I disagree. In light of our devastating fiscal crisis, it's an incredibly poor management decision.

And why on earth the Commissioner of Police's salary would be reduced by $15K is unfathomable.

So taking the police commissioner's salary from 130k down to 115k is "unfathomable", but raising the fire commissioner's from 85k to 105k is "an incredibly poor management decision"? On what basis are you determining what is an appropriate salary for a position when you have two so drastically different viewpoints? The lowest paid guy getting a raise is "an incredibly poor management decision" yet the highest paid guy getting a pay cut is "unfathomable"? Ever think just maybe they did a study about market rates for these positions and changed the salaries (up, down, or unchanged) based on that research?

Where do I send my resume?

I sent mine in. Only received a thank you letter after the governor announced the nominees. They never even contacted me for an interview. :X

1. On what basis are you determining what is an appropriate salary for a position when you have two so drastically different viewpoints? The lowest paid guy getting a raise is "an incredibly poor management decision" yet the highest paid guy getting a pay cut is "unfathomable"?

2. Ever think just maybe they did a study about market rates for these positions and changed the salaries (up, down, or unchanged) based on that research?

1. Two drastically different viewpoints? Only ONE position has seen a salary decrease and it's just about the most important position when we need more and better officers on the ground and a good person to effect that.

2. The VI Government do a study about market rates? You were almost responsible for a senior citizen falling of her chair while overcome with a burst of hysterical laughter at the mere thought ...

Certainly agree with you on the police commissioner's salary -- a place with the 3rd highest homicide rate in the world in 2014 needs the very best person for that job. Hope you were sitting on a stool, and not a high-top chair so it hurt less when you fell 😉

Police Chief Salary (United States)

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at least the VI can claim there is not a gender inequality

If I remember correctly the Police Commissioner actually said something to the effect that he knew the department was hurting financially and said he was willing to work for less since he was not hurting financially. If I find the article I'll post specifics.

I heard that at least one person turned Mapp down when offered position, so Mapp had to offer more to get him to accept position. It's not easy being a high profile public figure here where you're most likely going to be constantly criticized and have to listen to complaints everywhere you go.

Those that managed to negotiate raises are doing what anybody offered a job should do - negotiate for the best possible package.

Mapp is going to have to figure out how to cover his rapidly rising expenses.

According to "Acting Finance Commissioner Valdamier Collens there was still a $133 million budget shortfall and severe cash-flow problems."

The above debt amount was mentioned in this article regarding senators passing unfunded JFL hospital appropriations.

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2015/03/13/senate-passes-unfunded-hospital-appropriations-package

There is no money to pay for many of the VI Government's obligations but there is for pay increase for new hires, while many people working under these various department heads/commissioners haven't seen a salary increase in decades and retires await their pensions?
Makes fiscal sense, no?

Robbing Peter to pay Paul continues on a grand scale.

i think, especially in these times, they should all take a pay cut. especially when they can not even pay those who are retired or pay tax refunds.

+1 on the pay cut.

Including our Senators who are the highest paid next to California's
Senators, who serve a far greater population.

Per Alana's post with US salaries:

One thing I have never understood is how the government here thinks it can justify paying equal, or higher, than stateside wages for high ranking positions, when private companies here never pay anything even approaching stateside wages.

Also - all these appointees have not proven their worth yet, so to give them raises before they even start on the job is ridiculous. Let them earn the raises!

Makes me sick.

No doubt the senators are only posturing in order to appear as if they are acting in a fiscally responsible manner when they will go ahead and accept both the nominees and the salary increases while spouting dire consequences of our ever increasing debt.

After all, we're still awaiting the results of how much public funds were spent on all the inauguration ceremonies and events they had for themselves, their friends families on all 3 islands. Many of which were by invitation only and not open to the public, hefting the price
of their celebrations.

They do not have a clue about fiscal responsibility.

SOS!

they only care about lining their pockets