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HomeNewsLocal governmentSenators Forward 2023 Budget Legislation to Rules and Judiciary

Senators Forward 2023 Budget Legislation to Rules and Judiciary

Sen. Kurt Vialet chairs the Committee on Finance during the Sept. 13th hearing. (Photo courtesy of the VI Legislature)

On Tuesday, the Committee on Finance met to consider the proposed 2023 fiscal year budget enabling legislation for the government of the US Virgin Islands.

“It’s been a long couple months. Today concludes the work of the Finance Committee,” said committee chair Kurt Vialet. “I encourage those individuals on the Committee on Rules and Judiciary to pass these bills under the closed rule. And we will make sure that we relay that information to the chair.”

Legislators voted favorably for all the bills on the agenda, and they were forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.

“We’re hoping that once again the Legislature has been able to approve a balanced budget that will allow this government the flexibility to pay government employees, pay GERS, pay health insurance, and also to pay all of the outstanding vendors,” said Vialet.

The bills outline how much is spent each fiscal year. The following are the bills that were moved forward:

Bill No. 34-0302 – An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0303 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the judicial branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands, the Judicial Council, and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0304 – An Act providing an appropriation for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0305 – An Act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0306 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for operating expenses during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0307 – An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0308 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0309 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0310 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0311 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0312 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Government Insurance Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Labor and the Department of Finance for operating expenses during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0313 – An Act providing for the lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Health for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0314 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0315 – An Act providing for a lump-sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for salaries, operating expenses, and other purposes to the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Division of Personnel, the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement and the Virgin Islands Department of Finance for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0316 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0318 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0319 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0320 – An Act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Waste Water Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0321 – An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0322 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0323 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0324 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0325 – An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0326 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles from the Transportation Trust Fund during the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0327 – An Act providing an appropriation for the sum of $6,000,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0328 – An Act amending Title 22 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, section 237(a)(3)(A) and title 33, chapter 111, section 3061 relating to the balance in the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund to amend the currently required $40,000,000 amount which is set to increase to $50,000,000 on Sept. 30th, 2022

Bill No. 34-0329 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Crisis Intervention Fund for the fiscal year Oct. 1st, 2022, through Sept. 30th, 2023

Bill No. 34-0330 – An Act appropriating funds for the adoption of various portions of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan, submitted by the Agricultural Plan Task Force on Dec. 29th, 2021, as the official Agricultural Plan for the Territory. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory

Bill No. 34-0332 – An Act appropriating $570,000 from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Port Authority to complete repairs and construction at the Loredon Lorence Boynes, Sr. Dock on the island of St. John. Proposed by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet

Bill No. 34-0333 – An Act appropriating funds from the Virgin Islands Lottery in the fiscal year 2022 to the Government Employees Retirement System for bonus pay shortfalls from fiscal years 2021 and 2022. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory

Bill No. 34-0334 – An Act appropriating funds from the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2022 to the University of the Virgin Islands for the purpose of paying retroactive merit increases to employees who separated from the University during the period of Jan. 1st, 1992, through Dec. 31st, 1998. Proposed by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., and Kurt Vialet

Bill No. 34-0335 – An Act reconciling Acts No. 8474 and 8590 and making various appropriations available until Sept. 30th, 2023; making a correction to Act No. 8578; and amending Act No. 8496 appropriating additional funds to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority. Proposed by Senators Kurt Vialet, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Novelle E. Francis, Jr.

Bill No. 34-0336 – An Act amending Title 18 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7, section 158 to increase the compensation of election officers and clerks. Sponsored by Senators Kenneth L. Gittens and Senator Kurt Vialet

Bill No. 34-0337 – An Act appropriating the sum of $679,250 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Port Authority to be used for the resurfacing of the Gordon Finch Molasses Pier Facility. Sponsored by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.

Bill No. 34-0339 – An Act authorizing the Department of Property and Procurement to set aside a portion of Parcel F Submarine Base No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for the Office of Veterans Affairs for the construction of a veteran’s complex and appropriating a total of $3,000,000 for construction completion. Sponsored by Senators Dwayne M. DeGraff, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, and Kurt Vialet

Bill No. 34-0294 – An Act amending Act 8474 to adjust the fiscal year 2022 budget to appropriate funds to U.S.V.I. Soccer, Inc., as a grant for additional improvements to the professional soccer field at Plot 23-I Estate Bethlehem St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to add coverings for the bleachers and a new parking lot. Sponsored by Senators Franklin D. Johnson and Senator Vialet

Bill No. 34-0339 – An Act amending 8474 is amended in the miscellaneous section by adding a line item for the construction of a veteran’s multipurpose center on the island of St. Thomas in the amount of $1,500,000. Sponsored by Senators Dwayne M. DeGraff, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, and Kurt Vialet

Sens. Kurt Vialet and Marvin Blyden speak to Jennifer O’Neal during the Committee on Finance budget hearing. (Photo courtesy of the VI Legislature)

The Committee on Finance did not adjourn but instead recessed until Thursday, Sept. 15th, 2022, to conclude appropriation transfers.

Sens. Kurt Vialet, Marvin Blyden, Donna Frett-Gregory, Dwayne Degraff, Samuel Carrion, Javan James, Sr., Janelle Sarauw, Novelle Francis Jr., Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Kenneth Gittens and Carla Joseph were present.

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