Facing loss of state funding, West Virginia Public Broadcasting plans for layoffs

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

http://current.org/2017/03/facing-l...rginia-public-broadcasting-plans-for-layoffs/

15 staff members will face layoffs and governors cuts in funding are at play here.

Finn did not specify which positions will be eliminated but said the layoffs will result in “less reliable” service and more outages.

Gov. Jim Justice’s proposed budget would cut WVPB’s $4.6 million in funding, which accounts for about 45 percent of the network’s total budget.

WVPB would shut down entirely if it lost all state funding, said Finn, who urged lawmakers to make sure that the state had plans for the broadcast license if that happened.

The governor’s budget also cuts a $300,000 direct appropriation to WVPB’s nationally syndicated music show Mountain Stage. The show is the “first thing that I think should be protected, honestly, and what I will work to make sure it is protected first,” Finn said.

“I just don’t see any way, in my opinion, that we can effectively operate without your entity,” said one committee member. “I think you all do a great job selling the state.”

The West Virginia House and Senate have yet to release their budget proposals.

In an interview with West Virginia radio host Howard Monroe, Gov. Justice said he didn’t want to cut public broadcasting’s funding, “but if I had come with no budget cuts I would have heard it till the cows come home.” Justice said he would “try every way in the world” to continue funding WVPB.

 

[TheBigA]

There's a big difference between this situation in West Virginia and what happened in New Jersey. There, Governor Chris Christie effectively abolished the state's public broadcasting system, turning over the stations to independent public stations in New York and Philadelphia. That's not happening here. The state would still own the licenses and stations.

What these state systems have to do is look for funding outside of the state appropriation so they're not so dependent on one single source. When 45% of the budget comes from the state, that's a problem. That's not a state problem, that's an administrative problem at WVPB. They need to diversify their funding so that a change in policy doesn't lead to disaster.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...lic-broadcasting-tries-stave-budget-ax/163976

The GM of West Virginia Public Broadcasting had to explain to a state congress its very existence recently.

 

[TheBigA]

What these articles don't say is that the state is facing a $300 million budget shortfall. The governor has proposed some tax increases to make up for the loss, but the legislature is opposed to raising taxes. So the alternative is cuts to state programs.

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

What these articles don't say is that the state is facing a $300 million budget shortfall. The governor has proposed some tax increases to make up for the loss, but the legislature is opposed to raising taxes. So the alternative is cuts to state programs.

BigA, it's even worse than that, as we've been told it's $500 million. No one here wants to raise taxes, most especially Governor Justice. EVERYTHING has to be considered. This will take more 'outside of the box' thinking than this state has had to do in its history.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

http://current.org/2017/03/the-pub-91-what-would-actually-happen-if-they-defunded-cpb/

Here is an update.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

http://current.org/2017/04/legislat...ts-1m-from-west-virginia-public-broadcasting/

Here is an update that will affect West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The West Virginia legislature passed a budget bill Sunday that would reduce the state’s subsidy for West Virginia Public Broadcasting by $1 million, stepping back from a Senate proposal to completely zero-out support for WVPB.

The bill, which sets spending levels for the entire state government, doesn’t resolve the debate over funding to public broadcasting for next year, but opens the next phase of deliberations. Governor Jim Justice, who initially proposed to eliminate WVPB’s $4.6 million subsidy, has said he prefers to maintain the funding for the time being. The bill now awaits Justice’s signature.

That means “all funding levels are still on the table,” according to Scott Finn, WVPB CEO, who posted an update of the funding situation on the station’s website Sunday afternoon. Gov. Justice called for full funding of WVPB as part of a restructuring plan that would transfer WVPB’s license to West Virginia University.

Finn said it is “unclear” if Justice will sign the state budget bill. He expects the governor and lawmakers to negotiate a compromise on the state budget. A final decision on WVPB funding may be delayed until a special legislative session that will take place before July 1, he said. WVPB’s fiscal year begins July 1.

With state lawmakers agreeing on a $1 million cut, the pubcasting network has worked out a scenario to adjust for the loss of about 22 percent of its budget. The list of possible cuts includes layoffs of 20 of its 71 staffers (five of which would include not filling open positions); shutting down six TV translators; cutting local production, such as a planned documentary on the state’s Vietnam veterans; cancelling popular syndicated programs such as British comedies and dramas; reducing its TV master control hours; or losing local news bureaus.

With its state funding in jeopardy, support for WVPB has been strong, Finn said. He pointed to West Virginia House Finance Chairman Eric Nelson who said on the House floor, “I’m not sure if I’ve received more emails and calls than on this one particular line item. Unbelievable.”