Entrance to WQLN/Erie as seen by Google's Street Mapper

Just one year ago, the Commonwealth’s public television stations were supported by $8 million in state funding to ensure some 12 ½ million Pennsylvanians access to educational and informative programming on their televisions.

Today, after a budget process that took 101 days more than legally allowed, the state legislators have deemed that although education is important, educational television isn’t. The state’s PBS stations this year will be funded at the 12.5% of last year’s appropriation.

Last year: $8M. This year: One million clams.

I don’t know if you’ve ever run any business or organization, but when a steady revenue stream drops 87½%, that’s devastating; it’s a game changer.

And the game has definitely changed for WQLN/Erie and its President Dwight Miller. If you remember back in July, Miller had to guess what the state funding level would end up being. After receiving $850,000 in 2008-09, his worse case scenario was set at $250K. He then proceeded to cut multiple staff and program purchases. It was one of the darkest days in the history of Public Broadcasting of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

But even while Dwight Miller was thinking “worse case,” the lawmakers went to “scorched earth.”

The budget passed last week only includes $100,000 for Erie’s public station. Talk about an unfunded mandate! Pennsylvania in one swipe of the pen abdicated its responsibility as a facilitating funder, dropping to the level of an average corporate donor.

So where does this leave WQLN? Miller says there is no more people to cut, he is at a total minimum staffing level to still be a functioning organization. So he optimistically is looking for options where he can increase some top line revenue from other streams, such as selling production and internet services to local companies, and more pervasive fundraising activities. He is also seeking to merge some services with other in-state PBS stations to save on costs. Finally, Erie in general will receive less locally-tailored programming as WQLN will be only able to afford to be mostly a “pass-through” outlet for whatever the national PBS network serves up.

Sure, I understand how hard these times are, and all of the difficult decisions the state House, Senate, and Governor have to make. But to devalue these important community assets statewide is very disturbing.