SF4059

Purpose

To provide state funding from the General Fund to support operating costs for public television stations serving greater Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation amount: $1,925,000 in fiscal year 2027.
• Recipient: General fund money is appropriated to the Commissioner of Administration to provide grants to public television stations for their operations.
• Specific allocations (within the total):
  • Pioneer PBS: $350,000
  • Lakeland PBS: $475,000
  • KSMQ: $650,000
  • PBS North: $250,000
  • Prairie Public Television: $200,000

How it works

• The money is designated as operating grants and is distributed by the Commissioner of Administration to the listed public television stations to support their day-to-day operating costs for the upcoming fiscal year.

Scope and Target

• Focuses on public television stations in greater Minnesota.
• Identifies five specific stations that will receive funds to cover operating expenses.

Significance and Changes to Law

• Establishes a targeted operating-funding allocation for specific public television stations for FY 2027.
• Represents a new or continued state financial support mechanism to sustain public broadcasting services in rural parts of Minnesota (via the General Fund to the administration for distribution as grants).

Potential Effects

• Improves financial stability for the recipient stations, enabling continued local programming, educational content, and public service broadcasting in greater Minnesota.
• Could influence programming, staffing, and service reach at Pioneer PBS, Lakeland PBS, KSMQ, PBS North, and Prairie Public Television.

Relevant Terms - appropriation - General Fund - Commissioner of Administration - grants - public television stations - operations - fiscal year 2027 - Pioneer PBS - Lakeland PBS - KSMQ - PBS North - Prairie Public Television - greater Minnesota