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Appropriations committee restores funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Summary
The Joint Committee on Appropriations voted to restore the governor's proposed cut to South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) as part of the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications budget after testimony from SDPB leadership and bipartisan support.
The Joint Committee on Appropriations voted to restore the governor's proposed reduction to South Dakota Public Broadcasting, approving the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications budget that includes full SDPB funding. Representative Muncke moved the motion; Representative Cassin seconded it, and the roll call was recorded as 15 yays and 3 excused.
The vote reverses a governor-proposed transfer of general fund authority and keeps SDPB's state support intact for FY26. Committee members said the restoration was the result of bipartisan work and direct testimony from the public broadcaster.
Julie Overgaard, executive director of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, addressed the committee before the vote. "It has been my distinct honor and pleasure to serve the state and the people of South Dakota and South Dakota Public Broadcasting for 37 years," she said. "This has been one of the hardest few months of my life and my staff's life and the people who support us and believe in us. And I just can't thank you all enough for the time and attention you gave and took to hear us out, to listen to us, to digest what we had to say, and to make what I think is the right decision."
Committee members who supported the motion said the restoration was bipartisan. Representative Muncke said the outcome reflected a cross-aisle effort to "restore the cuts to South Dakota Public Broadcasting." Representative Cassin said he was "really, really happy to see this funding restored to South Dakota public broadcasting at the full level."
The committee adopted the full Bureau of Information and Telecommunications motion sheet, which the fiscal staff said includes $10,442,402 in general funds, $371,891 in federal fund expenditure authority, $77,290,734 in other fund expenditure authority, and 390.5 FTEs. The committee explicitly declined the governor's line D2 that would have transferred general fund authority for SDPB to other funds.
The committee recorded the motion as passing and moved on to subsequent budget items.
Looking ahead, committee members noted there will likely be continued conversation about the role and funding model for public broadcasting in the state.
