Income and disbursements
(a) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands, a special fund to be known as the “Public Assistance Fund.” Into this Fund shall be paid all moneys appropriated by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for assistance under this chapter and all moneys from all other sources, including contributions from the Federal Government and from other public or private sources made available to the Commissioner for assistance or the administration of assistance under this chapter. All contributions from private sources shall become public funds upon deposit in the Public Assistance Fund and shall thenceforth be subject to the control of the Commissioner. Into this Fund may also be paid, if so provided in appropriation bills passed by the Legislature, moneys appropriated thereby for administration of assistance under this chapter, including moneys appropriated for administration of assistance jointly with other programs. Disbursements from this Fund shall be made as directed by the Commissioner in accordance with this chapter.
Allocation of moneys
(b) The Commissioner shall estimate the money to be credited to the Public Assistance Fund from all sources during each fiscal year and from the funds available shall make such apportionments among various assistance and other programs, for assistance and/or the administration thereof, and for other purposes, as will most effectively carry out the purposes of this chapter and the purposes of the appropriations and contributions made to the Fund for the fiscal year.
Unexpended balances
(c) Unexpended balances in the Public Assistance Fund at the end of each fiscal year will continue available in succeeding fiscal years for liquidation of obligations of the preceding years and for the continued operation of assistance programs, provided that there shall be included in the budget estimates submitted by the Commissioner each year an estimate of the Virgin Islands share of the accumulated unobligated balance of the Fund to be carried forward into the year for which the budget estimates are submitted.
Loans from public and trust funds
(d) Upon recommendation of the Commissioner, the Governor may make loans from the public and trust funds for advance to the Public Assistance Fund, when cash balances are temporarily insufficient to meet authorized obligations. Such loans shall not exceed in the aggregate the total appropriation for public assistance made in the annual budget for the fiscal year for which the loans are made. Such loans shall be repaid, without interest, to the public or trust funds before the close of the fiscal year for which the loans were made.