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PSS to move out of Fund building next month
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Posted on Jul 10 2011
The Public School System has decided to move its central offices to a system-owned building by next month.
Christopher Timmons, the Retirement Fund’s legal counsel, told the board Friday that PSS has already informed the agency about its decision to move to a new location soon.
Saipan Tribune learned that PSS’ central offices would be temporarily housed in the vacant buildings of Marianas High School.
PSS leases both the second and third floors of the Retirement Building on Capital Hills for its central offices and the Board of Education. It pays about $20,000 in building lease and about $10,000 in utility consumption each month.
Both the Fund and the PSS recently issued requests for proposals, with the Fund soliciting new tenants for its building and PSS announcing that it is seeking affordable new spaces for its offices.
The Fund submitted a bid to PSS with the same terms and condition it earlier offered the system. These include a reduced lease, provided PSS will settle outstanding lease payments and utility billings and making a three-month deposit. The Fund also wants either a separate meter for PSS power or a separate deposit for its utility payments.
The board of trustees disclosed Friday that PSS countered the Fund’s bid, saying it wants a lower lease rate without conditions.
A meeting last week between PSS officials and Fund representatives fell through, resulting in PSS deciding to move out of the building.
The board earlier disclosed that PSS has an outstanding obligation of over $300,000 for its building rent and power consumption. On Friday, the board was informed that that PSS paid a “substantial” amount to settle this debt. PSS, it was reported, now only owes the Fund building rent for June, July, and August.
The PSS lease expired on April 30. It secured a short-term extension at an increased rate of $1.60 per square meter, a slight increase over the previous rate of $1.33 per square meter.
PSS had asked the board to allow it to pay the same rate during the extension period. The board is considering giving PSS a rebate once all obligations are fulfilled after August.
