Supplementary estimate covers BHB staff salary agreement
A $21.8 million package to support health and social needs, safety and security, young people and education, infrastructure, and public service modernisation was announced by the Premier and Minister of Finance in the House of Assembly this morning.
David Burt said that the largest investment of the funds — outlined in a supplementary budget estimate for 2025-26 — was $11 million to cover the recently negotiated salary agreement for Bermuda Hospitals Board staff.
He added that the spending reflected “the critical importance of ensuring that the nurses, clinicians, technicians, support teams and medical professionals who care for Bermuda’s residents every day are supported and appropriately compensated”.
The Government’s continued commitment to assisting seniors, children and vulnerable families is also represented in the package, the finance minister said, with additional funding planned for nursing homes and residential services as well as therapeutic services at the K Margaret Carter Centre and security upgrades for the child and family services department.
Mr Burt said of the supplementary estimate: “It also provides $1 million to commence mental health treatment support for public officers on GEHI.
“Capital investments include security enhancements at residential facilities, modernisation of the Brangman Home, and upgrades to the Eastern Zone Community Centre.”
He added: “Recent events underscore the importance of ensuring that Bermuda’s safety and security agencies have the resources they require.
“This supplementary estimate provides $1 million to increase the number of police officers, strengthening frontline policing capacity.
“It also supports the acquisition of new police vehicles, maritime radar upgrades and enhanced border-control scanners.
“Additional support for the Department of Corrections includes funding for psychologists to improve rehabilitation services.”
He said that resources would be available for digital transformation, cloud and mobile security enhancements and upgrades to strengthen the resilience of government systems.
MPs heard: “In addition, we are investing in youth online safety education and advancing AI education initiatives to ensure that our children are prepared for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.”
Mr Burt said that the package provided additional scholarships for Bermudian students.
He told the House: “The supplementary estimate includes funding for an additional roadside landscaping crew to enhance maintenance of public parks and roadways, $500,000 in additional community club capital development grants to strengthen neighbourhood institutions, a community solar pilot that advances our sustainability goals, and $2.4 million of additional affordable housing investments through the Bermuda Housing Corporation.
“This $2.4 million is in addition to the record amount of funding invested in affordable housing over the past three years, which demonstrates the priority that this Government ascribes to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Bermuda.”
Mr Burt added: “This package also supports our cultural and tourism sectors.
“It includes funding to enhance Bermuda’s event portfolio and marketing efforts, helping sustain year-round activity and supporting our broader tourism strategy in advance of next year’s reopening of the Fairmont Southampton.”
He told MPs: “This supplementary estimate reflects what this government stands for.
“When the economy performs better than expected, when prudent management creates fiscal space, we do not hoard those gains.
“We invest them back into our people, our communities, our safety, our health system and our future.
“Because of the successful execution of Bermuda’s economic recovery plan, and the choices this government made to ensure our tax system was more fair, we delivered a budget surplus before a single dime of corporate income tax was collected.”
Mr Burt said that a midyear fiscal update will be presented and debated in the House next week.
• To read the Premier’s statement and the supplementary estimate, see Related Media
You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.
