NorthwestJanuary 26, 1996

Associated Press

BOISE An obviously frustrated Idaho Public Television General Manager Jerold Garber told legislative budget writers he had no alternative but to eliminate 15 jobs, cut three shows and curtail "Idaho Reports," the nightly legislative report popular with lawmakers.

Garber told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday that with last year's reduction of $100,000 in state support and the federal decision to cut $700,000 in aid through the Corporation For Public Broadcasting force the action.

He said the commitment to educational services and children's programs were maintained, leaving only local production to cover the budget cuts.

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"We heard over and over again it's got to be businesslike," Garber said. "In a business, you can't do everything with limited resources. You just can't do it."

Garber deflected suggestions that the cuts should have been made in the management ranks, and he said money being used for equipment to keep the transmission system running cannot be diverted to program production. If the transmission system breaks down, nothing can get to viewers whether locally produced or not, he said.

"You are faced with some real problems," Senate Finance Chairman Atwell Parry, R-Melba, acknowledged.

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