Two of the most consequential bills passed by the 36th Legislature this year — both tied to government salaries and passed unanimously — have been vetoed by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., setting up a possible override vote when senators return to session on July 27. The move has reignited tensions over fiscal authority, wage equity, and the constitutional role of the Legislature in setting public compensation.
While Bryan announced Wednesday that he had signed into law a slate of other bills from the Legislature’s June 4 session — including measures on public safety, opioid risk transparency, zoning changes, and veteran support — it was his rejection of Bill No. 36-0053, which would raise the minimum salary for full-time government employees to $35,000, and Bill No. 36-0085, which would roll back automatic raises for top officials, that has drawn the strongest reaction.
In his veto message, Bryan said the minimum salary increase, though well-intentioned, was an “unfunded mandate” that would add nearly $40 million in recurring annual costs. In two separate analysis in as many weeks, the governor cited data from the Office of Management and Budget, which estimated the first-year impact at $37.9 million, including pay raises, fringe benefits, and increased retirement contributions. “Hope is not a plan,” he said. “Kicking the can down the road does not make this mandate any more affordable.”
Bryan has warned that implementing the increase without identifying offsetting revenue would put pressure on already underfunded agencies and jeopardize ongoing investments in infrastructure, health care, and utility services. He also said the bill, which was set to take effect Oct. 1, could interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements and complicate ongoing contract negotiations.
But Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet, who introduced the measure and successfully amended it to raise the floor from $32,000 to $35,000, pushed back. In an interview with the Virgin Islands Source, Vialet said the legislation was carefully timed to coincide with the budget process, giving lawmakers room to identify cost savings and phase in the raises responsibly. He also challenged the administration’s cost estimates, saying the bill would apply directly to about 900 employees, not the larger number cited by the governor’s team.
“These are just responsible decisions that have to be made,” Vialet said in a recent interview with the Source, noting that many of the affected workers — including custodial staff — have not seen a pay adjustment since 2015. He also pointed to potential savings from cutting overtime and reviewing personnel structures, and emphasized that the bill does not supersede union negotiations.
The governor also vetoed Bill No. 36-0085, which would rescind, or render null and void, any salary increases implemented for the governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet members earlier this year after the Legislature failed to act within the 90-day period outlined by law. The raises, recommended by the Public Officials Compensation Commission, have faced sustained public criticism. In introducing the bill, sponsor Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger has reasserted the Legislature’s constitutional authority to set salaries and demanded accountability for what she has described as “unauthorized payments.”
At issue for the Legislature, and based on an opinion rendered by its own legal counsel, is whether the raises were to be implemented by the next administration, in accordance with the original bill establishing the commission.
In his veto message Wednesday, Bryan argued that it’s the roll back that’s unconstitutional, calling it a retroactive action that undermines the separation of powers. “Once salaries are lawfully awarded and disbursed, attempting to claw them back is not just unfair – it’s unlawful,” he wrote.
The vetoes came alongside a raft of bills the governor did sign. These include:
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Bill No. 36-0005: Establishes stricter bail conditions in domestic violence cases.
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Bill No. 36-0021: Requires health care providers to disclose opioid risks before prescribing.
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Bill No. 36-0036: Increases penalties for traffic violations and authorizes a dedicated police impound lot.
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Bill No. 36-0063: Ensures all contractors pay gross receipts taxes regardless of their physical location and allocates funding to veteran support programs and the V.I. National Guard’s 50th anniversary.
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Zoning Bills (36-0033, 36-0034, 36-0094, 36-0095, 36-0082): Approve rezonings and easements across Smith Bay, Bakkero, Rosendahl, and Estate LaGrange.
Additionally, the Legislature confirmed several nominations, including Judge Jessica Gallivan to the Superior Court, Carolyn Hermon-Percell to the UVI board of trustees, Winston Williams to the Board of Contractors, and Kirk Callwood Sr. to the Virgin Islands Banking Board.
St. Croix Source
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