TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan for balancing the state’s budget includes a cut in funding for public radio and television stations.
Public broadcasting funds would drop by nearly 17 percent from current levels under proposals outlined by the Republican governor Friday.
Legislators last year included $600,000 in the current budget for grants to public broadcasting stations. Brownback wants to cut the figure to $588,000.
He also is proposing to reduce the funding again to $500,000 for the 2016 fiscal year beginning July 1. It would remain at $500,000 for fiscal year 2017.
The state provided $3.8 million as recently as 2008.
When Brownback took office in January 2011, he sought unsuccessfully to eliminate all state public broadcasting funds and have stations make up the gap with private donations.
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