CHANNEL 19 Station awaits word on funding
Trustees say they must pay for safety forces first.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The township's community television channel, Channel 19, is facing an uncertain future because of budget cuts by township trustees.
Trustees cut in half their funding to Channel 19 last year, from $30,000 annually to $15,000, as part of their efforts to save money and avoid a projected deficit.
They have yet to sign a contract to fund the channel this year, and township Administrator Michael Dockry said there has been no discussion of a new contract.
The channel broadcasts trustees meetings, school and community events, a community calendar, school sports, and programs created by students and local residents. On Monday, the school board voted to have Channel 19 broadcast the votes and comments of school officials at its regular meetings beginning in May.
Money from trustees was used by Channel 19 to maintain equipment, buy new videotapes and help pay a part-time staffer to help direct some of the tapings.
Schools' contribution
The school board pays the other three staff members, two of whom also have other duties with the schools, and provides the channel with a studio, control room and small office in Fitch High School.
High school students operate the equipment for most of the tapings with the assistance of station staff.
Ralph Grossen, Channel 19 coordinator and a Fitch teacher, said that without additional funding for equipment and supplies, the channel most likely won't survive past the end of this year. Grossen said that for now, the channel is paying for supplies using money that was set aside in the past.
This is the channel's 19th year of operation.
Trustee Lisa Oles said she thinks the channel plays an important role in the township by giving residents who can't attend trustees meetings an opportunity to stay informed about their government. Both Oles and fellow Trustee Bo Pritchard stressed, however, that the channel is not the trustees' top financial priority.
Oles and Pritchard said they think the township has to pay for its safety forces before giving money to Channel 19.
"If it means we're going to cut things like Channel 19 to maintain those safety forces, then that's what we're going to do," Pritchard said.
Turnaround
Earlier this month, trustees rehired two police officers and seven part-time firefighters who had been laid off since last year. Money to rehire the officers and firefighters came from a Mahoning County Drug Task Force Grant and the salary of the police chief, who has been deployed to Eastern Europe with the Ohio Army National Guard.
Township officials said they were facing a deficit last year because of increases in the cost of insurance, workers' compensation and wages and decreases in revenue.
Clerk Michael Kurish has predicted that at the end of this year, the township will have a $300,000 carry-over, in part because a few large construction projects are expected to lead to a record year for zoning permit fees. The township also is expected to benefit from Mahoning County's efforts to collect unpaid taxes.
Oles said now that the township has rehired the police and firefighters she doesn't see a reason not to fund Channel 19.
Funding sources
In the past, trustees have funded Channel 19 using part of a franchise fee paid to the township by Armstrong Cable. Dockry said the franchise fee was $152,300 last year, and noted that there are no legal restrictions on how the fee is used.
The channel also collects revenue from advertising on the community bulletin board. Advertisements for businesses cost $3 a day, $15 a week or $50 a month, and announcements of garage sales, birthdays or anniversaries cost $1 a day. Nonprofit organizations are not charged for advertisements.
Grossen noted that he has considered raising the channel's advertising rates.
Pritchard suggested that Channel 19 seek sponsorships from local businesses to help pay its bills. Grossen, however, said the channel doesn't have the staff to ask businesses for sponsorship money.