ST. THOMAS – The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, convened at the Capitol Building. During the meeting, lawmakers voted in favor of closed rule budget bills for Fiscal Year 2025. All agenda items will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration and action. Ultimately, the meeting recessed and will re-convene on Thursday, September 26^th at 9:00 AM at the Capitol Building.

Senator Frett-Gregory stated that today is a momentous occasion as we finalize the FY 2025 budget, a process that began in June 2024. She emphasized that this marks her final budget meeting for the Legislature, making this budgeting period particularly significant. The Senator noted that she and her colleagues dedicated considerable effort to this endeavor, and upon closer examination, it became evident that the budget required extensive refinement. She highlighted that the revenue projections were notably ambitious and did not align with their expectations.

Furthermore, Senator Frett-Gregory expressed that as policymakers, they recognized their responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of the community by reinstating the youth and elderly programs that had been reduced by the Executive Branch. Despite the challenges they encountered, she assured that while salaries increased, essential community services were restored.

Senators voted with a favorable recommendation for the following FY 2025 budget bills: 

• Bill No. 35-0341 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 Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0342 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0343 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0344 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 October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0345 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0346 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0347 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0351 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0352 An Act appropriating $2,079,296 from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operating expenses of the Public Services Commission for the Fiscal Year October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0353 An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0354 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0355 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0356 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0357 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 October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0358 An Act providing for a lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Health and a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0360 An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0361 An Act providing an appropriation from the Transportation Trust Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands and to provide operating expenses for the V.I. Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Works for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0362 An Act providing an appropriation from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as acontribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands  for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0363 An Act providing an appropriation for the 

Legislature of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025

• Bill No. 35-0364 An Act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, Office of the Governor, the Virgin Islands Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0365 An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0366 An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands to the District Public Road Fund for fiscal year October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0348 An act providing an appropriation from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for road repair and maintenance projects in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0349 An Act providing an appropriation from the St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for road
• repair and maintenance projects in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0350 An act providing an appropriation from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for road repair and maintenance projects in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025
• Bill No. 35-0087 An Act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 111 to add section 3038a to establish in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund designated as the Veterans Mainland Travel Revolving Fund and appropriating $250,000 for reimbursement for veterans’ airfare to travel outside of the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network for necessary medical care
• Bill No. 35-0272 An Act amending title 20 Virgin Islands Code, part II, chapter 38, section 425(a) relating to an increase in the motor vehicle rental surcharge, and title 33 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 111, section 3002 relating to increased funding in the District Public Road Fund

Senators present included Donna Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Sammuel Carrion, Javan E. James, Sr., Marvin Blyden, Ray Fonseca, Diane T. Capehart, and Carla J. Joseph.

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