Bryan submitted $1.2 billion FY 2020 executive budget to Legislature

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. submitted the Virgin Islands executive budget for fiscal year 2020 to the 33rd Legislature on May 30, 2019.

The proposal called for $1.2 billion in expenditures, including $69.1 million for debt service, $216.3 million in federal funds and $941.9 million in local funds.

According to Government House, the budget assumed no debt financing or new taxes. It included full funding for pay increases negotiated by the previous administration, adding $41 million to personnel services, and set aside 1% for expected salary increases.

The proposal also included a $75 million set-aside for income tax refunds owed to Virgin Islands residents, an increase in the minimum requirement of the Insurance Guarantee Fund from $10 million to $20 million, and a $5 million appropriation to the Budget Stabilization Fund.

Government House said the budget increased funding for the Virgin Islands Fire Service to support the transfer of Emergency Medical Service personnel from the Health Department. It also set aside $7.1 million in the Health Department for mental health services for people with mental illness who were in, or at risk of entering, the justice system.

The budget proposed equal general-fund allocations of $22 million each for Schneider Regional Medical Center and Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital. It also proposed an increase for the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation.

The proposal allocated $817.8 million for executive branch departments and agencies, which Government House said was $39.4 million less than in fiscal year 2019. It also proposed $23 million for the Legislature and $35.2 million for the Judiciary.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-submits-fy-2020-executive-budget-to-legislature/