Report: Idaho Gov. Otter's State of the State speech
Idaho Budget Cuts Include Public Television and Parks
Otter proposes to phase out five commissions as well as Idaho Public Television.By Sharon Fisher, 1-11-10
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter proposed a budget for fiscal year 2011 with a reduction of more than 10 percent from the general fund, including the elimination of the Department of Parks and Recreation as well as a phaseout over four years of the Human Rights Commission, the State Independent Living Council, the Developmental Disabilities Council, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, the Hispanic Commission, and Idaho Public Television.
“These changes are meant to be permanent – based on a philosophy of government that recognizes our responsibility to individual Idahoans rather than to government itself,” Otter said about the budget, which also eliminates 430 state jobs, 375 of which he said are already vacant.
Parks and Rec had requested $35 million for fiscal year 2011, which starts on July 1, 2010, and runs through June 30, 2011. The maintenance of state parklands will be performed by the State Department of Lands, while the fees collected will go to the Department of Fish and Game, according to state budget documents. There are more than 150 staffers in the department. Last year, including reapportionment, the agency received slightly over $46 million. “The combination will result in fiscal year savings of $10 million with ongoing savings of $7 million annual,” according to the Governor’s budget documents. “The goal is to ensure the continued operation of Idaho parks for residence and visitors.”
Idaho Public Television receives about $1.5 million per year, which is for the maintenance and administration of the statewide system, said general manager Peter Morrill. In addition, because some of the station’s funding comes from $4 million in federal grants to buy equipment that the station may no longer be able to maintain, Idaho Public Television may be in a position to have to pay back some of those federal grants, meaning cuts could be more severe than the 25 percent suggested for 2011, he said.
Of the $1.5 million, approximately $1 million is for salaries for 11 administrative and technical positions, and $350,000 is for lease of the station’s Boise facility. “We’re not going to be dramatically cutting and still have a statewide system,” Morrill said. Because 82 percent of the station’s contributions come from southwest Idaho, if the budget is enacted, it is likely that it will need to focus on that geographic area, he said.
The Hispanic Commission, which has four employees, is proposed to be cut by about $25,000 and one employee. The Human Rights Commission, with 11 staffers, had a recommendation from the Governor for $675,000, after its request of $900,000. The State Independent Living Council, with 14 staffers, is recommended to be cut to 6 staff, and have its budget cut from $970,000 to $810,000.
Otter’s address to the joint session of the Legislature, which included the obligatory shout-out to the Broncos and the Vandals, also applauded a number of growing companies throughout Idaho, and saying the state was reaching out to other companies to encourage them to move here. In addition, after the Governor’s series of summits with the business, innovation, and banking communities, he will be submitting a series of reports to the Legislature’s germane committees on ideas from these groups, including eliminating the personal property tax, tax credits for infrastructure construction, a home buyer tax credit such as the one offered in Utah, and improvements in technology transfer.
Other items of note in the budget include:
* the use of $241 million in rainy-day funds, including the Millennium Fund
* the continuing of the planned implementation of the grocery tax credit
* $1 million in Opportunity Scholarships
* $1 million to continue implementing the Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan
* $900,000 to combat invasive milfoil
* No employee salary increases
* No inflationary adjustments or replacement capital
* Consolidate of statewide information technology services at the Department of Administration, which had been slated to be removed a couple of years ago, including the transfer of employees from seven different agencies into the Department of Administration
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80 times the expenditure.
I didn't get around to seeing the Governor's office, but I would've been happy to trim a couple $million out of his suite to keep IdPTV going.
Oh, and I'd be willing to give up the "Governor's Mansion," too.
otherwise taxes can go higher , which already are taking a toll on all of us. we have to prioritize our spending and make hard decisions sometimes.
I am a person who has disabilities. When I was a child, I watched public television all the time. Watching public television inspired me to have a career as an artist. I always loved to draw. I now have a small jewelry business. Also, when I was in high school, I had a part-time job working for Maryland Public Television, where I learned office skills. Now I also have a part-time job as a file clerk.
It is very important to children and adults, especially those with disabilities, to have continued public television. It provides shows that people rely on for entertainment, education, information, and connections to people and places to the outside world. My life would be boring and less informed without it.
Please oppose the proposals to cut off or reduce funding for public television.