SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – South Dakota Public Broadcasting announced it will cut 25% of its staff as a result of losing federal funding.
This comes after it learned 100% of its federal funding was cut in July after the U.S. House approved $9 billion in cuts, which includes funding for PBS.
SDPB’s executive director told KELOLAND News she was “devastated” as it received about $2 million from the federal government, making up over 20% of its overall budget.
SDPB announced the cuts at a news conference Thursday in Sioux Falls. You can watch in the player above.
The affected positions are in a variety of programming SDPB provided, including radio program In the Moment, TV program South Dakota Focus and its entire local educational resources, according to SDPB.
“These changes are in no way a reflection of their work, talent, or dedication—but rather the result of unprecedented and sudden losses to our funding,” director Julie Overgaard said in a news release.
The layoffs will happen at the end of October.
Coverage of the state legislature and high school sporting and fine art events will remain as a priority, according to officials.
“SDPB has assembled a list of priorities and, as funding resources settle in, some programming that is potentially on the chopping block may be spared,” SDPB wrote in the news release.
Nine TV transmitters and 12 radio transmitters that provide coverage to approximately 98% of South Dakota’s population will remain operational.
“We prove every day that the state’s investment in SDPB is worth it. We are disheartened that support for public broadcasting at the state level was not reflected in the vote at the federal level by our representatives in Congress,” Overgaard said. “It is simply not possible to absorb a $2.2 million cut in federal funding and not have it affect our programming and content. These cuts are significant, and they hurt.”
If more funding is gained through Friends of SDPB, the non-profit fundraising group that supports SDPB, along with other partners, more staff will be retained.
“We are encouraged by the outpouring of well-wishes we have received, many of which are accompanied by donations,” said Ryan Howlett, CEO of Friends of SDPB. “Local money pays for programming that our members and audience appreciate the most. We are grateful for the support we receive from the state of South Dakota and from our member-donors.”
This is a developing story. KELOLAND News will have more coverage on-air and online.
