Nelson: Legislature Let Pay Raises Take Effect By Default, Opted Not to Vote

Though he intended, when writing the original bill, to have the Legislature vote on whatever increases were recommended by the V.I. Public Officials Compensation Commission, former Sen. Positive Nelson said Thursday it was clear that in the past few months since a final report was submitted, lawmakers opted not to take that step.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. told the Source Wednesday that the government is moving forward on paperwork for the increases based on the VIPOCC Report submitted in August 2024, which he said went into effect Jan. 1. Questions surrounding the validity of the raises have persisted since Bryan’s announcement on Jan. 5, driven by the commission’s late submission of the report — two years after the original deadline — and the lack of formal follow-up or transmittal beyond an email sent to the governor, Legislature and chief V.I. Supreme Court justice.

It was at a press conference in March of 2007 that Nelson announced he had received authorization to introduce a bill establishing the commission. At that time, it was nearly four months since the Senate, in December of 2006, had passed the controversial Act 6905, which granted pay raises across the board to the governor, lieutenant governor and senators.