Commissioner Wayne Biggs, Jr. presented the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs' 2012 budget to the 29th Legislature’s Finance Committee on Monday and touted some of the department's recent accomplishments in improving the licensing process and educating the territory's consumers.

“We anticipate this budget request amount to be sufficient to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the department during Fiscal Year 2012, all things remaining relative,” he told legislators.

The DLCA administers consumer services and programs pursuant to the Consumer Protection Law of 1973 and regulates licensing of private businesses and professions.

The department currently employs 46 staff members, with four positions vacant. The commissioner said the optimum staffing level would be 63 employees, but DLCA will be able to adequately serve the public with the current staffing.

“As the local economy improves and funding becomes available, the DLCA anticipates and prays that this esteemed body will assist us with receiving the additional staff requested,” Commissioner Biggs added.

He requested a total appropriation of $3,824,514 to fund the department's seven divisions – a slight increase of $64,052 from the department’s 2011 budget. The total budget represents $3,424,514 from the General Fund, and a $400,000 allotment from the Consumer Protection Fund, a revolving fund derived from the collection of license penalties and citation fines. While CPF money is designated toward costs associated with consumer disputes, complaints and education, it has been used to defray costs for professional contracts, equipment, and supplies due to financial constraints.

The requested 2012 General Fund appropriation represents an almost half of one percent increase from the previous year, however, personnel, fringe benefits and utility costs have all been slashed. Escalated prices for supplies and other services and charges bring the appropriation above the current year's amount, the commissioner told Finance Committee members.

Personnel services and fringe benefits account for approximately 77 percent of the allotment. The remaining $685,789 is used to cover the Department’s operating expenses.

After presenting his proposed budget, Biggs used his time before the Committee to discuss the department's goals and some recent accomplishments. 

Biggs spoke about new regulations and enforcement plans for Vendors' Plaza, as well as development of a beautification plan for the outdoor market. He reported success in streamlining licensing procedures, implementing a new mechanism to better monitor gasoline prices, advising the public about retail gasoline pricing, and moving the department toward a “paperless” office. Biggs also updated the legislature on DLCA's partnership with the AARP on the Prescription Drug Price Monitoring initiative.