CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — A U.S. Virgin Islands senator says government employees will have their original salaries reinstated next week following an 8 percent reduction approved two years ago.
Shawn-Michael Malone said late Friday that legislators were able to balance the budget through other measures including a 3 percent cut to all government agencies.
Public workers had filed a lawsuit to block the salary cut, but a U.S. federal judge dismissed the case last year, saying the cuts were necessary and unavoidable.
The U.S. territory is facing a nearly $24 million shortfall.