U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature: FY 2022 Enabling Budget Legislation Advances

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands, Sept. 15 -- The U.S. Virgin Islands legislature issued the following news release:

Members of the Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Kurt A. Vialet, convened in a meeting at the Capitol Building and voted on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Enabling Budget Legislation for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States.

"The Committee on Finance thoroughly reviewed the entire budget to ensure the numbers are accurate. The Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan, Jr. initially sent down a budget totaling $945 million," Sen. Vialet said. "However, lawmakers were able to reduce the FY 2022 budget to $919,900,508. As a result, this now gives us some flexibility. There are discussions slated to be held in a meeting on September 20th regarding monies earmarked for the 8% but may be utilized for the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS). We won't be able to immediately solve the problem of GERS in one scoop, but we will be able to at least start the process."

Lawmakers voted in the affirmative for the following measures:

* Bill No. 34-0109- an act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0110- an act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Judicial Branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0111- an act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0112- an act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0113- an act providing an appropriation from the anti-litter and beautification fund to the waste management authority and the department of public works for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0114- an act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes

* Bill No. 34-0115- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0116- an act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0117- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0118- an act providing an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0119- an act providing an appropriation from the Government Insurance Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Labor and the Department of Finance for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0120- an act providing for the lump sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund for fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0121- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0122- an act providing a for the lump sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for salaries, operating expenses, and other purposes of the Office of Management and Budget, the Division of Personnel, the Department of Property and Procurement, and the Department of Finance for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0123- an act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Virgin Islands office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0124- an act providing an appropriation from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0125- an act providing an appropriation for $900,000 from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0126- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the labor management committee for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0127- an act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the sewer system fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 general fund

* Bill No. 34-0128- an act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0129- an act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Agency, and the Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021

* Bill No. 34-0130- an act providing an appropriation for the sum of $10,000,000 from the Transportation Trust Fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0131- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0132- an act providing an appropriation to the Public Services Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 for operating expenses

* Bill No. 34-0133- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands board of nurse licensure from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0135- an act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0136- an act providing an appropriation for the sum of $16,300,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

* Bill No. 34-0137- an act amending Virgin Islands code, title 22, chapter 10, section 237(a)(3) (a) and title 33, chapter 111, section 3061 relating to the balance in the Insurance Guaranty Fund to amend the currently required $30,000,000 amount which is set to increase to $50,000,000 on September 30, 2022 to $40,000,000

* Bill No. 34-0106- FY 21 supplemental budget an act amending act No. 8365, as amended by act No. 8411; and act No. 8451; amending act No. 8451, section 2(a); amending act No. 8347, section 1, relating to the Fiscal Year 2021 operating budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands, to appropriate $24,423,321 to several departments and agencies to pay outstanding obligations; and providing for other related purposes

However, the following measures were removed from the agenda:

* Bill No. 34-0134- (Donna A. Frett-Gregory by request)- an act ratifying the third renewal agreement for group medical health insurance and the third renewal of agreement for group dental insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands, and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company; the second renewal of agreement for vision insurance and the first renewal of agreement for group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands standard insurance company

* Bill No. 34-0138- an act providing an appropriation for the sum of $2,000,000 from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund as a contribution to the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

All other outlined Bills were approved and forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration

Senators attending the meeting: Chairman Kurt A. Vialet, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Janelle K. Sarauw, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Carla J. Joseph, Javan E. James Sr., Alma Francis-Heyliger, Novelle E. Francis Jr., and Marvin A. Blyden.