SDPB reacts to cut

By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer | Friday, March 03, 2006

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South Dakota Public Broadcasting officials are considering cuts in programs, technology or staff in response to a $500,000 reduction in state support approved Wednesday by the state Legislature.

And as that budget scrutiny began Thursday, two Rapid City legislators argued about whether the cut was simply good management of taxpayer dollars or an ultra-conservative attack on a widely-used public institution.

SDPB executive director Julie Anderson of Vermillion said Thursday that the funding cut, which came from the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee late Tuesday and passed the Senate and House as lawmakers finished up on Wednesday, could have profound effects on the public broadcasting system in South Dakota.

“It’s a big deal. Truthfully, we’re having a meeting this morning to start looking for the money,” she said. “I think the real hurt is that it’s not a one-year cut. It’s a $500,000 reduction in perpetuity.”

The $500,000 is about 6 percent of the agency’s $8.4 million annual budget, about $3.4 million of which has come from the state.

Anderson and other public-broadcasting officials worry that after the $500,000 is removed from their appropriation, it won’t ever be restored. That isn’t necessarily so, however, said state Sen. Bill Napoli, R-Rapid City, who voted for the cut and continues to support it.

“It could easily come back in next year if they come back and show they need it,” he said. “They’ve got a cushion. South Dakota Public Broadcasting was projected to have a million dollars left over.”

Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, brought the funding cut to the Appropriation Committee on Tuesday night. Greenfield argued that the state has plenty of television and radio outlets and that the public-broadcasting system was set to have a budget cushion of about $970,000. Then, he proposed the cut, which the committee approved on a 12-6 vote.

“This came out of Sen. Greenfield’s pocket. He surprised us all, and he had a good argument and a good amendment, so it got 12 out of 18,” Napoli said. “That’s a strong vote.”

Opponents of the cut tried unsuccessfully to restore the money before the final state budget bill was approved Wednesday. Sen. Stan Adelstein, R-Rapid City, one of the most outspoken opponents, called the cut “yet another example of extremism gone too far in the Legislature.”

Adelstein was upset both by the cut and by the fact that it came so late in the budget process that there was no public comment or involvement by supporters of public broadcasting. A former Appropriations Committee member, he labeled Greenfield as “an ultra-conservative extremist” who helped organize the “last-minute ambush of public radio by extremists.”

“It is a breach of trust and an abuse of power,” Adelstein said.

Napoli was angered by those comments, which he said showed Adelstein didn’t understand the amendment or the public-broadcasting budget.

“I’m upset beyond belief that this little gray-haired senator would call me an extremist for doing my job, and that’s exactly what we did,” Napoli said. “If that guy would get his ass out of bed and come to the committee meetings, he would have realized that South Dakota Public Broadcasting has almost a million dollars left over.”

Adelstein said the cut should have been presented to lawmakers earlier. He said it was aimed more at a perceived liberal slant by public broadcasting than it was at the budget.

“The cut was presented by people who didn’t like the tone of public broadcasting,” Adelstein said. “I don’t think the editorial pen should be exercised with the hatchet of cutting off necessary operational funds.”

Adelstein said missing the details of the public-broadcast budget had nothing to do with when he got out of bed, because the amendment didn’t arise until Tuesday night, after most lawmakers had left the Capitol.

Anderson said the projected $970,000 budget surplus is misleading.

“We’ve also been sitting on some federal grant money. A lot of what we’re sitting on is tied to federal grants for digital conversation,” she said.

Greenfield said Thursday that even with the cut, public broadcasting would end the year almost $500,000 in the black next year. He doubts the cut will hurt programming.

Greenfield, the executive director of South Dakota Right to Life, said Adelstein’s comments about him were inaccurate and unfair.

“I guess that’s his prerogative. Sen. Adelstein has chosen to engage in personal attacks,” he said. “I guess I’m not cut from the same mold.”

Supporters of public broadcasting could make up part or all of the $500,000 with increased donations or come back to the 2007 Legislature and make the case for more money, Greenfield said. “We certainly can’t tie the hands of a future Legislature,” he said. “Next year’s Legislature will be asked to reinstate the funds, almost certainly.”

Anderson said it would be almost impossible to raise an additional $500,000 in donations and that he worries what the cut would do.

“Even if we can defer some expenses — eat Ramen noodles, year in and year out — without that money, it’s going to catch up to us,” she said. “There’s a lot of concern here.”

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com