Bryan signed FY2022 executive budget and FY2021 supplemental budget on Sept. 30

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed the Fiscal Year 2022 Executive Budget bills and the FY 2021 Supplemental Executive Budget amendment on Sept. 30, 2021, according to Government House.

Government House said the FY2022 General Fund budget totaled $924,198,794. Items highlighted in the budget included $75 million for income tax refunds, $19.2 million in wage increases for government employees, $38 million for health insurance for government retirees, $3.8 million for outstanding unemployment insurance, $2 million for workers compensation payments to providers, $3 million for Bureau of Information Technology upgrades and $2 million for the Office of Disaster Recovery.

The budget also included $1 million for the Government of the Virgin Islands Financial Fellows Program, $225,000 for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and $250,000 for the Office of Health Information Technology Exchange.

In a transmittal letter to Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory, Bryan said he was disappointed the 34th Legislature did not consider his proposed two-year FY2022-2023 executive budget. He also objected to Bill No. 34-0129, which placed the Department of Tourism budget in the Tourism Revolving Fund, saying he approved the bill in protest and urged lawmakers to reconsider.

Bryan also signed the FY2021 Supplemental Executive Budget bill, which appropriated $24,423,321 to departments and agencies for outstanding obligations, capital projects and related purposes. Government House said the measure included $5 million for the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority's debt to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and $10 million for the Government Employees' Retirement System, in addition to the government's $14 million employer match.

Other supplemental appropriations cited by Government House included $350,000 for lighting improvements on Strand Street in Frederiksted, $1.5 million for repairs to the Frederiksted waterfront and revitalization of Midre Cummings Park, $300,000 for repair and maintenance of the Eastern Cemetery crypt on St. Thomas, $1 million for renovation of restroom facilities in downtown Charlotte Amalie and more than $1 million for outstanding hurricane active-duty pay for National Guardsmen from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The Virgin Islands fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-signs-fy2022-executive-budget-fy2021-supplemental-executive-budget/