(Host) Vermont Public Television is struggling to stay afloat financially as the economy worsens.
VPT President John King says membership donations are down four percent, federal funding has declined, and the organization is still figuring out how to pay back the state for $81,000 that has been rescinded in recent budget cuts.
King says contracts for national programming have already been set for the year, so cuts are being made elsewhere in the organization.
(King) "We have had paycuts across the board. We’ve cut back on fringe benefits, particularly retirement contributions, for our staff. And as many of you may know we’ve temporarily suspended-and I want to underscore the word temporarily suspended-the production of new Profile episodes through the balance of this fiscal year."
(Host) King says cutting Profile, a locally-produced interview program that aired weekly, will save the station about $15,000 to $20,000. Producing local shows tends to cost more than purchasing nationally distributed programs.