PBS North Carolina to give employees voluntary separation offers, enact hiring freeze

PBS North Carolina says it's offering voluntary separation packages to most permanent employees in light of increasing budget shortfalls.

The network is one of many public entities facing tough decisions given a slash in federal funding announced in recent months as a new administration settles in. The cuts total nearly $9 million, according to a release from the organization.

“We did not create this—it was dictated by Congress,” said David Crabtree, CEO of PBS North Carolina. “Nonetheless, we will play the hand we’re dealt and pledge to continue to be good stewards of our budgets.”

The offer is a way for employers to encourage employees to resign voluntarily from a position.

PBS North Carolina is also implementing reductions in non-personnel expenses, a staff hiring freeze and eliminating vacant positions.

The announcement comes after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which helps pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and television stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” said that it would close after the U.S. government withdrew funding.

President Donald Trump signed a bill on July 24 canceling about $1.1 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting. A release from PBS North Carolina said it would lead to an annual loss of $4.8 million for them.

Crabtree, a longtime WRAL News anchor and reporter, said that CPB accounted for about 15 percent of funding to PBS North Carolina. The cuts leave many stations scrambling and counting on viewer and listener donations to stay afloat. Some NPR and PBS stations saw a surge in donations after funding cuts were announced.