WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- Public access television in Wausau could have a new funding mechanism, and additional programs soon. Wausau’s City Council voted to allow a special non-profit fund to be created outside of the council and within the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, if the Community Foundation’s board agrees to do it.
David Dickenson coordinates Wausau Public Access. He supports the change, saying it would give them the ability to do more community television productions. “It allows us to go out and ask for money from the Community Foundation. The process will be, though, that first the board of the Community Foundation has to approve the fund. Once they approve the fund, we can go to them and talk to them about potential productions.”
Dickenson says if approved, the Community Foundation would manage production funds, and be able to review proposals for program funding, and then award the funding in time for pre-production work. He says that would be especially useful for requests to produce television shows where the facility is not equipped such as the Curling Club. “The problem for us has been getting funding in advance that would allow us to hire people in advance and plan in advance. This sets us up for that. We’ll actually be able to go and ask this summer for some funding to do some wiring that will facilitate television production in the new (Curling Club) facility.”
The change has an additional benefit. Dickenson says if the Community Foundation approves the new fund, people can make tax deductible donations to public access television, and donors can remain anonymous if they choose to do so. “As a city organization, any money donated basically becomes part of the city record. That’s a public record. This would allow people to do tax exempt donations and anonymous donations to public access. The can also, if the fund is approved, they would be able to donate to the fund and have the funds segregated to specific concerns.”
The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin board may take this issue up at this week’s meeting.