Senate Unanimously Votes to Rescind Raises for Top Gov’t Officials

The 36th Legislature voted 14-0 Wednesday to rescind raises for the governor, lieutenant governor and other high-ranking government employees recommended by the V.I. Public Officials Compensation Commission.

Sen. Carla Joseph was counted as absent.

The vote came two days after lawmakers convened a Committee of the Whole to consider the measure, which was introduced by Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger Monday as a response to the territory’s financial struggles and the need “to make sure that when you decide to give individual raises, they’re actually tied to performance as opposed to doing things because people feel they’re entitled to them.” Though none of the invited testifiers from the executive branch of the Virgin Islands government attended the hearing, most lawmakers stated their intent to pass the measure when it came up in session.

On Wednesday, Francis Heyliger introduced an unopposed substituting amendment declaring the VIPOCC’s recommendations “null and void” and rescinding any raises that have been implemented. Further, any funds already paid to government officials pursuant to the commission’s recommendations must be returned to the territory’s General Fund within 30 days of the bill being enacted.