PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Peoria public television station WTVP is reducing its workforce to help get its finances in order.
25 News reports the station will be laying off nine people as part of $1.5 million in cuts approved at Tuesday’s board meeting. The effort comes after the revelation of “questionable, unauthorized, or improper” use of funds was discovered by management.
In a statement, newly appointed interim station manager Julie Sanders says it was “not an easy decision.” She continued to say the layoffs are a necessary step to ensure the long-term stability of WTVP.
The nine people laid off were given severance packages.
The station has been in financial trouble, as revealed by minutes from a Sept. 6th special board meeting. A review by the National Educational Telecommunications Association found that WTVP used $100,000 of credit capacity and has liquidated $320,000 form the station’s investment accounts.
Those details were not known to the treasurer and the executive committee until a financial draft statement in July.
The Board of Directors had also recommended more supervision of day-to-day operations and oversight of then President and CEO Lesley Matuszak. Matuszak resigned from the position on Sept. 27th, and was found dead in her home the next day.
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