ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System is preparing to revise its plans for rebuilding its Haypiece Hill facility after all three initial construction bids exceeded available funding, adding to financial pressures facing WTJX as it pursues broadcast expansion and new programming, including the planned release of previously unheard, unedited recordings from the Martinez–O'Neal federal corruption trial.
During a report to board members Friday, WTJX Chief Executive Officer Tanya-Marie Singh said the Legislature had approved the broadcaster's approximately $4.9 million budget as recommended by Government House but declined to provide additional funding requested by the station.
The broadcaster had sought $4,931,902 for fiscal year 2027, according to testimony presented to the Legislature in August. At the time, Singh warned that the loss of approximately $1.3 million in annual federal support threatened staffing, operations and the station's ability to meet other financial obligations.
Those challenges have been compounded by difficulties advancing reconstruction of WTJX's Haypiece Hill facility on St. Thomas.
Singh reported that all three bids received under the initial solicitation substantially exceeded the project's available budget. The broadcaster had also received a quote approaching $500,000 for design work alone.
WTJX now intends to issue a new request for proposals covering both design and construction, rather than proceeding under its previous approach.
The broadcaster previously advertised the project through its Haypiece Hill demolition and reconstruction solicitation, which includes construction documents, technical specifications and other project materials. The Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery also maintains procurement information for the undertaking.
With completion of the project still several years away, Singh said WTJX intends to seek an extension of its lease for the temporary accommodations currently housing its operations.
Despite those difficulties, the CEO reported continued progress on other facilities, including work at Mountain Top on St. Thomas and renovations at the broadcaster's Richmond property on St. Croix.
The financial outlook also remains uncertain nationally following the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which previously distributed federal funds to public television and radio stations.
The corporation's board voted to dissolve the organization in January 2026 after Congress eliminated its federal funding.
Singh told board members that PBS has since circulated a draft proposal changing how member station dues would be calculated.
"Dues would be based solely on station revenue, with money raised for endowments and capital projects no longer counted," Singh explained.
Under the proposal, WTJX's territorial government appropriation would continue counting toward the calculation, while its radio revenue would remain excluded.
The revised model is expected to be finalized before the end of 2026.
Singh also expressed hope that the results of the November 3 midterm elections could eventually create an opportunity for Congress to restore at least some federal support for public broadcasting.
Meanwhile, WTJX is pursuing additional infrastructure intended to expand the reach of its television programming.
Singh reported that the Federal Communications Commission had granted construction permits for six new television translators, which are low-power transmitters used to rebroadcast television signals to areas beyond the reach of a station's primary transmission facilities.
"We're really looking for two on St. Thomas and two on St. Croix," Singh said, describing the broadcaster's immediate construction priorities.
WTJX has three years to complete construction of the authorized sites, according to Singh. The broadcaster has published FCC application notices for television translators as part of its expansion efforts.
Progress on proposed FM radio translators has been less straightforward.
"The applications, which should have been private, apparently were not," Singh told board members, raising concerns about whether information submitted through the FCC's filing system had been improperly exposed.
"The filing system has been taken offline," she added.
Singh indicated that WTJX would have to await further action by federal regulators before the broadcaster could determine how to proceed.
"We'll see what the FCC does with that."
Despite the financial and operational challenges, WTJX is preparing new programming, including a special edition of Trial Watch centered on evidence presented during the federal corruption trial of former Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O'Neal.
Singh disclosed that the broadcaster had obtained audio recordings of conversations involving cooperating government witness David Whitaker and the two former senior officials that were played for jurors during the proceedings.
She said the forthcoming program would feature the "full, unedited recordings."
Martinez and O'Neal were convicted on all counts in December 2025 following a federal trial involving bribery, honest services wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Martinez was also convicted of obstruction of justice.
According to the Justice Department, Martinez accepted nearly $100,000 in bribes from Whitaker, while O'Neal approved an inflated government invoice and received money connected to the scheme.
The two former officials were sentenced in June 2026, with Martinez receiving 10 years in federal prison and O'Neal seven years.
The recordings played a role in the prosecution's presentation of evidence against the former officials. WTJX's planned special would provide the public with an opportunity to hear the recordings presented at trial without the edits ordinarily associated with news reports.
Singh did not announce a broadcast date for the special.
