Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has officially submitted the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget to the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, maintaining his administration’s unbroken record of on-time budget submissions since taking office.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Bryan administration has met the legal deadline, reinforcing what the governor described as a long-standing commitment to fiscal discipline, government transparency, and performance-driven results.
The FY 2026 proposal, titled Empowering Progress: Revitalization, Sustainability, and Financial Stability, presents a roadmap to economic resilience through targeted investments in infrastructure, government operations, and core public services. “This year’s budget is not just a set of numbers,” said Governor Bryan. “It reflects our vision to keep moving the Virgin Islands forward with purpose and discipline.”
The administration’s plan outlines $936.4 million in General Fund appropriations, with the total budget across all funding sources reaching $1.64 billion. According to the governor, the proposal is designed to adapt to national economic shifts while safeguarding local financial health and supporting continued growth.
Projected gross revenues for FY 2026 are estimated at $1.03 billion, with gains expected across four of the five major tax categories: Gross Receipts Tax, Excise Tax, Real Property Tax, and Personal Income Tax. A modest drop is anticipated in Corporate Income Tax revenues due to global economic conditions, but the impact is expected to be offset by gains in tourism and reconstruction-related activity, the administration said.
Julio A. Rhymer Sr., director of the Office of Management and Budget, noted the administration’s strategic approach. “This budget takes a disciplined approach to strengthen operations, increase compliance, and make sure our resources are tied to results,” said Rhymer. “We are positioning the Territory to stay on course, even as the federal landscape shifts.”
Budget Highlights:
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General Fund Appropriations: $936,426,140
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Total Budget Across All Funds: $1.64 billion
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Federal Grant Funds (Disaster & Non-Disaster): $20.65 billion
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Growth Areas: Gross Receipts, Personal Income, Excise, and Real Property taxes
The budget includes enhanced enforcement to recover delinquent property taxes and expands oversight of under-regulated sectors such as short-term rentals and other components of the shared economy.
Also embedded in the proposal are wage increases for government employees, major upgrades to government digital systems, investments in transportation infrastructure, and strengthened compliance with federal grant requirements. The administration reaffirmed its performance-based approach to budgeting, with agency funding directly tied to service improvements and measurable outcomes.
“We are not here to simply manage finances. We are here to invest in our people, modernize how cgovernment works, and build a better future,” said Governor Bryan. “This budget continues that work.”
The administration has made the full FY 2026 budget available for public review at https://omb.vi.gov. Residents are encouraged to explore detailed agency budgets, goals, and funding priorities.
“This is about more than meeting deadlines,” Governor Bryan concluded. “It is about showing the people of this Territory that their government is working for them.”
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