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NMC budget starts out similar to last year’s
With budget talks at the Legislature expected to begin soon, appropriations for the Northern Marianas College appear to be on status quo.
Right now, Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ proposed budget for NMC, which is sitting with the House Ways and Means Committee, is at a proposed $4,475,770.
The college had submitted a budget request of $8.481 million to the Office of the Governor last month. They are receiving $4,405 352 in local appropriations for this fiscal year.
The governor’s proposed amount is set for “all others” in the budget category summary. But while no appropriations for utilities or personnel are specified, the college, like in previous years, expects to use the earmarked funding for personnel salaries. Tuition and fees and federal program funds also cover positions not covered by local funds, according to the college.
The governor’s proposed budget notes 117 full-time employees for the college. In their budget request, the college had slots for 136 FTE positions.
Five of these were to be reinstated FTE positions, three of which are to support their workforce training goals. Two are for business instructors and the other is a workforce investment program manager.
Notably, 8 percent, or $686,000 of the college’s requested $8.4 million, were for salary adjustments for all staff and faculty, as well $200,000 for faculty ranking adjustments.
The college also pays some $600,000 in utilities out of tuition and fee revenues. Historically, tuition and fees also cover improvements to classrooms materials, and pay to adjunct hours.
