LEGISLATURE APPROVES 2023 BUDGET

The 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands approved a budget to govern the Territory for fiscal year 2023 during a regular session held on Sept. 20th in St. Thomas.

The budget for the fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2022 and ends on September 30, 2023, estimates $1,353,646,169 billion in overall spending. This projection reflects $934,216,545 for the General Fund and $311,963,890 in non-disaster related federal grants, $72,791,463 in Other Appropriated Funds and $37,090,268 in Other Non-Appropriated Funds rounds out the grand total for projected Territory spending for the budget year.

After an arduous budget process that dates back to early summer, the full body of lawmakers voted unanimously on the following budget bills:

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 October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0303 - Provides 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

Bill No. 34-0304 - Provides an appropriation for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Bill No. 34-0305 - Provides an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections

Bill No. 34-0306 - Provides 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

Bill No. 34-0307 - Provides an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands

Bill No. 34-0308 - Provides an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund

Bill No. 34-0309 - Provides an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses

Bill No. 34-0310 - Provides an appropriation for the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board

Bill No. 34-0311 - Provides an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund

Bill No. 34-0312 - Provides 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

Bill No. 34-0313 - Provides an for the lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Department of Health

Bill No. 34-0314 - Provides an appropriation for the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund.

Bill No. 34-0315 - Provides a lump-sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for operating expenses 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

Bill No. 34-0316 - Provides an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund

Bill No. 34-0318 - Provides an appropriation from the VI Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund

Bill No. 34-0319 - Provides an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee

Bill No. 34-0320 - Provides an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Waste Water Fund

Bill No. 34-0321 - Provides an appropriation to the VI Taxicab Commission

Bill No. 34-0322- Provides an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of the Governor, 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

Bill No. 34-0323- Provides an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund

Bill No. 34-0324 - Provides an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission

All of the bills, approved by the 34th Legislature, will move on to Governor Albert Bryan Jr. for final consideration and approval.