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GrassRoots funding to remain consistent

Eben Harrell

Pitkin County Commissioner Mick Ireland said yesterday that the county is committed to funding GrassRoots TV at a level consistent with years past.The announcement came after the board decided Tuesday to cut in half the station’s funding from the county’s dedicated health and human services and community nonprofit tax.The decision will slash GrassRoots funding from $36,575 this year to $15,500 in 2005. Ireland said yesterday that the commissioners agreed to make up the $15,000 difference from the county’s general fund.”We will continue to fund GrassRoots at a consistent level,” Ireland said. “We have all agreed to dip into the general fund.”The decision comes after several commissioners, including Ireland, expressed concern on Tuesday that cutting funding to the public channel violated the spirit of a five-year property tax approved in 2002. In a letter of appeal to the county, the GrassRoots board said that the tax measure guaranteed “stable funding” for the station.Final action on funding will wait until the county approves its 2005 budget later this year.Eben Harrell’s e-mail address is eharrell@aspentimes.com