Bryan outlines highlights of fiscal 2023 executive budget

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on Oct. 3 that he had signed the Virgin Islands Fiscal Year 2023 executive budget on Sept. 30 in accordance with the Virgin Islands Code.

During the Government House weekly briefing, Bryan said the general fund appropriation for the new fiscal year exceeded $927 million and that the government ended fiscal 2022 with a budget surplus. He said the surplus allowed the government to pledge $40 million toward retroactive wages owed to government employees and retirees dating to 1990.

Bryan said that, as of Sept. 30, more than $22 million had been paid to 5,365 employees and that the remaining $17 million would be distributed in the following days. He said the fiscal 2023 budget also included another $25 million for retroactive wage payments, restored funding in the Insurance Guarantee Fund to $50 million, and added $5 million to the Budget Stabilization Rainy Day fund.

He also said the budget set aside Transportation Trust Fund money for local road repairs rather than transferring it to support general fund appropriations, and included full funding for the new Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services following the recent merger.

Bryan said more than $9.2 million in premium pay had been distributed to more than 5,000 private- and public-sector employees.

At the same briefing, VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said the National Hurricane Center was tracking two tropical disturbances, including one east of the Windward Islands that could develop within days.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the territory had no confirmed monkeypox cases. Government House also reported that, as of Sept. 12, the territory was tracking 40 active COVID-19 cases, with five patients hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas and none hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-details-highlights-of-fy-2023-executive-budget/