By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

TINIAN Mayor Jose San Nicolas says he is now considering options to prevent the shutdown of Northern Marianas College’s academic programs on the island.
Among these options is using a portion of the local taxes from casino investments, he said.
San Nicolas said he will ask the assistance of the governor and the Legislature.
NMC president Carmen Fernandez was on Tinian on Friday to host a luncheon for students and administrators and to inform them of the decision to suspend the college programs on Tinian and Rota.
San Nicolas said Fernandez also met with the island’s legislative delegation members and his office’s representatives.
“I sent representatives to talk with the NMC president and they were informed that the reason for shutting down the academic programs is a funding shortage,” he said. “We’re going to look for a subsidy for the college through local taxes here.”
He said NMC is spending more for its Tinian campus than what it is collecting from students’ tuition due to declining enrollment.
According to the mayor, “whatever amount we can tap” will be used for the college.
If there is not enough funding, he said, “the municipality will work on how we can assist our students who will have to relocate to the Saipan campus.”
San Nicolas said the students may be able to use the housing facility for Tinian patients on Saipan and get at least $50 each.
San Nicolas said the government service vehicles reserved for Tinian can also be provided to the students on Saipan.