June 14, 2001 — Gov. Charles Turnbull has called the Legislature into a special session on Friday so that it can approve a bill that would make $10 million available to pay salary increases to government employees and retirees. The bill also provides funding to cover school repairs, health insurance premiums and other costs.
Of the $100 million, $510,000 is needed to give "all government employees and eligible retirees salary increases and other benefits and provide incentives" to unions that waived retroactive raises owed to them by the government, Turnbull said in his transmittal letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd on Wednesday. Turnbull added that the remaining salary increases and benefits for fiscal year 2002 will be contained in his fiscal year 2002 budget, which is late in being submitted to the Legislature. Turnbull has said the budget will be sent in mid-July.
The bill also seeks to appropriate $2.3 million to fund a summer maintenance and repair program for the territory’s public schools. Other aspects of the bill include:
– An appropriation of $13.6 million, or what is necessary, to fund the costs associated with increases in health insurance premiums and the deficit of the pharmaceutical plan.
– An appropriation of $350,000 to the Lieutenant. Governor’s Office to fund costs for a review property tax bills and to fund the Foreign Sales Corporation Task Force.
– An appropriation of $390,000 to the Public Works Department to reimburse funds advanced by it to pay for costs to clean up after Carnival.
– An appropriation of $400,000 for books and other supplies for the Summer Enrichment Program and the upcoming school year.
