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JPR cut sparks local concern Bob Pennell photo John Baxter, temporary host of Jefferson Public Radio�s Open Air Show, sets up in the main control room while volunteers Herman Edel (standing) and Rick Heubner work in another studio Wednesday on the Southern Oregon University campus. JPR was slated for a $203,000 cut in the governor�s budget, but Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, says the money is back in the Joint Ways and Means Committee�s budget. But worries about radio station�s operations might be unwarranted By Bill Varble A proposal in Gov. John Kitzhaber�s budget to eliminate state funding for Jefferson Public Radio has JPR officials crying foul, but sources say the cut may already be restored. The cut showed up in December as a $200,000 chunk of a proposed $6 million cut in the governor�s 2001-2003 budget for the Oregon University System�s campus-based public services. JPR is owned by Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Budget cuts target two campus service centers ASHLAND � Two small service centers in addition to Jefferson Public Radio at Southern Oregon University are threatened with serious financial cutbacks or elimination by the governor�s 2001-2002 budget proposal. They are the Southern Oregon Regional Services Institute and Small Business Development Center at SOU. "Certainly in my case, should I lose the state funding, the institute would not have enough to keep afloat," said SORSI Director Rebecca Reid. SORSI operates a database library for regional and census information, conducts statistical surveys and publishes the biennial "Oregon: A Statistical Overview." This year, the program receives $86,158 from the general fund budget, according to SOU Budget Director Lynn Paulson. The remainder of SORSI�s budget consists of matching grants dependent on the state�s contribution. "For every 50 cents brought in by the state, we bring in another 50 cents from outside sources," Reid said. "I would expect if we don�t get the (state) funding, I�ll be looking for other work." Liz Shelby, director of the Small Business Development Center, tells a similar story. This year the program is set to receive $101,958 � or about half its annual budget � from the general fund. "That money provides a base that we use to match other funds," Shelby said. "As you begin to reduce that, the other half begins to reduce, too." The center serves about 350 to 400 small businesses and people starting new businesses each year, Shelby said. The center also offers Oregon�s first and only Spanish-language business counseling service. In a letter to the governor in January, JPR Foundation President Steve Nelson called the proposal "an extremely serious challenge to JPR�s operations." The budget proposed a 74 percent cut in state support for campus-based services on state college campuses, including the elimination of $203,000 for JPR and cuts in other SOU services. But Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, said the money is now back in the Joint Ways and Means Committee�s budget, and he expects it to move through the Legislature. Hannon is a co-chairman of the budget-writing committee in the Senate. "I wasn�t aware they were worried," Hannon said. "I feel comfortable in the fact that I think the money�s going to be added back." The state provides about 10 percent of JPR�s budget of about $1.85 million (exclusive of its operations in Northern California, which are self-supported.) Kitzhaber�s proposal calls for cutting all state support for JPR. The cut represents 20 percent of the salaries at JPR, which has the equivalent of 17 full-time employees. JPR Director Ron Kramer said he found it especially vexing that the governor�s budget called for an increase of about $90,000 in state spending on Oregon Public Broadcasting. "We want to know how the governor reconciles what happens with JPR with the rest of the state," Kramer said Wednesday. The Portland-based OPB used to be part of the higher education budget but is now independent. None of OPB�s support is shared with Ashland-based JPR. The governor�s proposal also called for cuts in SOU�s Regional Services Institute and its services for small businesses. Higher education Chancellor Joe Cox said Wednesday the budget he got back from the governor in January contained the $6 million cut, which included JPR�s funding. "The major issue tied to this is the $96 million that was removed from the budget, including base spending on instruction and facilities and buildings," Cox said. He said the governor�s budget initially left higher education $96 million short of what he figured he needs to maintain existing services. About half that sum has since been restored. "My goal is to have the whole $96 million restored," Cox said. "Including JPR�s part." Jean Thorne, a policy adviser to the governor, said Wednesday the budget process began with state departments being asked to show what they would do with reductions of 10 percent. She said the deletion of JPR�s support was contained in a big cut in campus services recommended by a state budget analyst. She said the governor�s office didn�t have a lot of information on what campus-based services were. "The governor is disappointed too," she said. "But to live within revenues he had to make some choices. Higher ed doesn�t quite work for the governor the way other things do." JPR has received state support since its founding on the SOU campus in 1969. It operates three listening services and a system of transmitters and translators in Southern Oregon and Northern California, the mythical "state of Jefferson." Hannon said this week he expects the state�s new two-year budget, which is being slammed by the slowing economy in Oregon and the nation, to drop by at least $50 million when a new quarterly forecast is released next week. Hannon�s budget goes next to Ways and Means� education subcommittee, which is expected to recommend a higher education budget in April or May. The budget should go to the House and the Senate by the middle of May. Hannon said he does not expect the governor�s proposal to pass. The governor�s budget contains two recommendations viewed as surprising in light of the JPR cut. One is the increase in funding for OPB. The other gives JPR the authority to raise $6 million for capital spending for a new building on the SOU campus. Kramer and Nelson worry the cut could be viewed in the Redding, Calif., area as a softening of state support for JPR at home, chilling its development efforts there. JPR recently bought a performing arts center in Redding and has received grants from that city. Kramer said in the worst case, JPR officials could be forced to consider leaving the state system and going it alone. He said JPR�s relationship with higher education has been "wonderful" over the years. "It would be sad to see it end," he said. "But we would need to find a way to operate outside the system." As part of JPR�s response to concerns over the governor�s budget, it has launched a new Web site, www.savejpr.org. It is expected to be up and running this morning. The JPR Foundation raises more than $1.7 million a year that it transfers to SOU to support JPR. Thorne said in its appeal of the governor�s budget, the Chancellor�s Office placed campus-based services as No. 7 on a list of 10 items to be restored. Thorne said the issue of why an increase for OPB and a cut for JPR was "a legitimate question." Informed of Cox�s and Thorne�s comments, Kramer said, "That�s wonderful. If everybody agrees public radio is important, we should be able to get to resolution quickly." But, Cox warned, "The university system can�t do its job if there are restorations in support for campus-based services but not basic services." The committees can pick either position or somewhere in between or none of the above, Hannon added. "My understanding is that the chair of the subcommittee will support our recommendation to add back the money that was proposed for deletion by the governor," he added. Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.