General Government Operations and Appropriations rejects amendment to restore $20.85 million in tax refunds

Members of the General Government Operations and Appropriations discussion voted down an amendment to restore $20,852,114 in tax refunds, after lawmakers debated funding sources and potential cuts to government appropriations.

Senator Trelawny said, “the total that is being added back into tax refunds is 20,852,114. This is the amount that was in the executive budget request. So this brings us up to that amount.” The proposal would have authorized use of a fund balance that a staff member identified as about $29,000,000 to ensure refunds were paid without delay.

Supporters said restoring the amount was necessary to provide taxpayers with refunds they expected and argued the change could be handled in the piecemeal budget process. One proponent said the adjustment should be made in Chapter 1 and that the Office referred to in the discussion (OFB) would adjust ending balances as in previous sessions.

Opponents raised funding concerns and warned the amendment, as presented, would reduce appropriations for government operations. One member, during debate, said the amendment “reduces the amount for appropriation from $942,376,007.00 to $921,052,405.88, based on just the presentation here,” and argued that without an identified offset the change would force either higher revenues or cuts to services.

The presiding officer called for a show of hands following an objection; after members voted, the presiding officer said, “Amendment fails.” The record did not contain a roll-call tally in the transcript provided.

The meeting recessed afterward and was scheduled to return at 7:15 p.m. to continue work on the budget.