Bryan criticized legislative hearing on elected officials’ salaries and defended compensation changes

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. issued a statement on June 3, 2025, criticizing a legislative hearing held on June 2 concerning salaries for elected officials and defending the legality of compensation adjustments tied to the Virgin Islands Compensation Commission process.

Bryan said the 31st and 33rd Legislatures had established the Compensation Commission to study salaries and make recommendations, and he said the commission’s report was submitted to the Legislature in August 2024. He said the Legislature had not conducted a public review of the report’s contents.

In the statement, Bryan said the Legislature could not reduce the governor’s salary during his term and said the executive branch declined to participate in the June 2 hearing. He said he did not request a raise, did not draft the legislation and was not the approving authority for the commission’s recommendations.

Bryan also said he could not rescind laws and said any review of compensation and retirement benefits for elected officials should also examine statutory benefits available to senators.

The statement was issued in response to a press release by Sen. Milton Potter and the June 2 legislative hearing.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-condemns-legislative-salary-hearing-as-political-distraction-defends-legality-of-compensation-adjustments/