Senate Supplements UVI Budget to Meet 8% Wage Repayment

Lawmakers approved the allocation of additional funding to the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) for fiscal year 2022 in order for the University continue its support of vital initiatives and satisfy the employment taxes that it had accrued from the 8% salary restoration for government employees.

During a meeting of the full legislative body last week, the 34th Legislature unanimously voted to support Bill No. 0173, which amends UVI’s budget for the fiscal year 2022 in order to afford it the ability to continue the construction of a nursing and medical school on St. Croix, to support the UVI’s Green Technology Program and to resolve the almost $300,000 in outstanding taxes that resulted from the government’s salary restoration.

When the bill first received consideration from the Committee on Finance on December 13, Senator Kurt A. Vialet, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, explained that the bill sought to correct an oversight when the proposal to restore the 8% salary reduction first passed. In light of the oversight, lawmakers strived to rectify the UVI’s budget so that government employees could receive their reimbursement checks as close to the holidays as possible.

 “Unfortunately, during the process, some monies needed to be added for them so they could also be covered,” said Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, who signed on as a sponsor of the bill. “And we are trying to make sure that everyone who had money taken from them gets back their money.”

Senator Milton E. Potter, who also signed on as a sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that the employees of the University of the Virgin Islands made a sacrifice, along with their colleagues in the government ranks, to ensure that the Territory avoided mass layoffs when it cut the salaries of government employees back in 2011.

“Now, at a time when funding is available to restore the 8% for all government employees who made that sacrifice,” Sen. Potter said, “the people of the University of the Virgin Islands are no less entitled to that restoration.”

In addition to receiving unanimous support from the 13 voting senators in attendance for the Dec. 23rd session, members of the Legislature urged the quick repayment of owed salaries.

“Pay the people,” said Senator Janelle K. Saruaw. “Give them their eight percent.”

Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff called the restoration of the 8% salary much needed to make the University of the Virgin Islands whole.

“Illegally taken,” said Senator DeGraff. “Now legally given back.”

With the approval of the full 34th Legislature, the act will move on to Governor Albert Bryan Jr. for consideration to sign into law.