By Blox Content Management,By BIBIANA SNYDER Special to The Daily News
Copyright virginislandsdailynews
ST. THOMAS — The Committee on Rules and Judiciary advanced the first set of budget bills for Fiscal Year 2026 on Monday, sending 31 measures through to the full Senate for consideration at the next legislative session today.
The committee, chaired by Sen. Carla Joseph, voted in favor of every measure on the agenda at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. The bills covered health care, public safety, infrastructure and government operations.
Joseph said the package represents the hard work of the Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee and the Post Audit Division. She emphasized that the spending plan is balanced and highlighted measures that raise the minimum annual salary for government workers as well as funding for health services.
Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., chair of the Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee, urged senators to advance the measures, which he said reflects “fiscal caution and optimism” after 22 budget hearings. He emphasized the importance of federal revenues tied to disaster recovery projects, with “$139 million earmarked to be collected.”
He said the hospitals and health care budget has increased by $2.5 million, and there are additional funds for streetlights and support for government employee health insurance costs.
Senate President Milton Potter expressed his support for the bills, saying that “Passing this budget is essential to maintaining stability, accountability and progress for our territory.”
Sen. Avery Lewis also backed the bills, noting allocations for hospitals, roads, the Legislature’s aging building and nonprofits.
“Could we do it all? No. But we were as generous and as cautious as we can be. We did our best,” he said.
The bills approved Monday include:
Bill No. 36-0154, appropriating funds from the Health Revolving Fund to the Department of Health and the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0155, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fund.
Bill No. 36-0156, appropriating funds from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Department of Property and Procurement.
Bill No. 36-0157, appropriating funds from the V.I. Lottery to the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0158, appropriating funds from the District Public Road Fund to the Department of Public Works for operations.
Bill No. 36-0159, appropriating funds from the Indirect Cost Fund for the Office of Management and Budget, Division of Personnel, Property and Procurement and the Department of Finance.
Bill No. 36-0160, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the St. Croix and St. Thomas Capital Improvement Funds.
Bill No. 36-0161, an act appropriating $25.5 million to the V.I. Legislature.
Bill No. 36-0162, appropriating $20 million from the Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0167, appropriating funds for salaries and expenses of the Board of Elections and Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
Bill No. 36-0168, providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Labor Management Committee.
Bill No. 36-0169, appropriating $1 million from the Education Initiative Fund to the School of Construction, Maintenance and Capital Fund.
Bill No. 36-0170, appropriating the operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund.
Bill No. 36-0171, appropriating the operating expenses of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0172, providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0173, providing an appropriation for the operation of the Judicial Branch, the Judicial Council and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender.
Bill No. 36-0175, providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Services Commission.
Bill No. 36-0176, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the St. John Capital Improvement Fund.
Bill No. 36-0177, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Board of Education from the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0178, appropriating funds from the Transportation Trust Fund as a contribution to the General Fund and for the operating expenses of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Works.
Bill No. 36-0179, appropriating funds for the Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0180, providing an appropriation to the Taxicab Commission.
Bill No. 36-0181, appropriating funds from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Waste Management Authority and the Department of Public Works for operating expenses.
Bill No. 36-0182, providing an appropriation for the Waste Management Authority from the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0186, appropriating $4.89 million from the GVI/JPMC Charitable Fund to the General Fund.
Bill No. 36-0120, appropriating $341,460 from the Education Initiative Fund to the Department of Education for evaluations to determine students’ eligibility for special education services. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Kurt A. Vialet
Bill No. 36-0174, providing an appropriation from the General Fund for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands.
Most of the measures were sponsored by Potter and Francis, with one education-related bill sponsored by Vialet.
In addition to Francis, Joseph, Lewis and Potter, senators present Monday were Kenneth Gittens, Angel Bolques Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger and Clifford Joseph Sr.
