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Ocean Shores board debates underwriting rates and fundraising to help station budget
Summary
Board members discussed underwriting revenue, how underwriter money is handled between North Beach Independent Media and the city, and asked for a clearer schedule and accounting of underwriting spots.
Board members and station volunteers spent part of the meeting reviewing underwriting practices, how underwriting revenue is tracked and allocated, and whether the station can increase rates and net revenue to reduce reliance on city budget allocations.
Why it matters: The city-owned radio station relies on a mix of city budget allocations and underwriting revenue sold by North Beach Independent Media (the station’s nonprofit partner). Board members said clearer accounting and a schedule of when underwriting spots run will help measure how much money flows to the station and how much is retained by the nonprofit seller.
What the board discussed: The chair and other members said the station is aiming for more underwriting revenue to reduce taxpayer support; one speaker described a target of roughly $25,000 in underwriting over two years to help operations (speaker did not claim the target was guaranteed). The treasurer and sales volunteers described a tiered underwriting rate structure (frequency-based: e.g., 2x, 3x, 4x daily placements for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year) and said the station previously raised roughly $12,900 in a prior year and spent about $11,800 on station needs.
Governance and constraints: Board members noted legal/contractual constraints because the station is city-owned. Because municipal rules restrict some types of promotional spending, underwriting sales are processed through the nonprofit (North Beach Independent Media) and funds for station operational items are then coordinated with the city budget process. Several board members called this “mushy” and asked for clearer separation of roles: the nonprofit sells underwriting (and pays a sales commission), the city holds the official budget for tower lease, licensing, and some operating costs.
Requests and next steps: Board members asked station staff to provide a recent schedule/grid showing which underwriting spots ran and how frequently (a play log or schedule for the last month). Marty and the sales volunteer said they will make underwriting schedules, grids, and prices available to board members and said they would meet separately to finalize rates and the agency/retail split.
Ending: The board agreed to follow up with a more detailed underwriting schedule and with finance staff to clarify which city-held funds (including any year-end surplus) can be allocated to tower and emergency-readiness expenses.
