$924 Million Budget For Fiscal Year 2022 Set to be Forwarded to Governor Well in Advance of Deadline

After months of hearings and crunching numbers, the 34th Legislature approved budget bills that make up the $924,198,794 Fiscal Year 2022 budget during a Committee of the Whole meeting Friday. The measures were on course to be forwarded to Governor Albert Bryan for his signature.

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Sen. Kurt Vialet, explained that the initial budget came to the Senate at $973 million, however it was revised to $945 million when it was presented by the Office of Management and Budget. “In being conservative, when we completed the mark-up process we came in at $924,198,794... That is making sure that all the positions are funded; it also funds a number of vacant positions and during the markup we were also able to enhance certain departments.”

Senator Janelle Sarauw highlighted some funded vacancies. “We were able to fund vacancies in [the Bureau of Internal Revenue], Property Taxes, Human Services, Education and other critical vacancies," she said.

Mr. Vialet also stated that the government would absorb the cost of the increase in healthcare for government employees for the third straight year.

“They don’t even realize," he said of the gov't employees. "They see their rate stay the same but the rate is the same because the Senate has absorbed the cost. If we did not do that, health insurance from three years ago would have increased... You would be paying an extra $160 more every month," Mr. Vialet said.

The senator explained that health insurance cost increased by $5.5 million and that the Legislature only needed to appropriate approximately $800,000 after offsetting the cost by using $4.7 million for a Premium Reserve Fund, an option that was presented last week.

An example of a department that was enhanced during the markup process was the V.I. Fire Service. The Senate was able to appropriate $1 million toward the first fireboat in the Virgin Islands, according to Mr. Vialet.

Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory stated, “Today is the 17th of September and we wanted to make sure we put a budget before the people — not on September 30th but in mid-September. It shows that we are very serious about the work that we are doing here as legislators."

All senators thanked the Committee on Finance and everyone involved for their work in passing the 2022 Fiscal Year budget.

The following are the bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget:

Bill 34-0134: An act ratifying the third renewal agreement for group medical health insurance, and the third renewal agreement for group dental insurance between the government of the Virgin Islands and CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Company; the second renewal 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 and the Standard Insurance Company
Bill 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 34-0106: FY21 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
Bill 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 34-0111: An act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands during fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022
Bill 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 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