Supporters of public broadcasting in Kansas are concerned this could be the year that public funding for the operation ends.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget recommendation for the next fiscal year includes $600,000 for public broadcasting, down from $3.8 million in 2008.

More lawmakers consider public broadcasting a target for cuts in a time when a tight state budget requires more money for such areas as schools and social services.

A House committee earlier this year voted to remove the remaining subsidy. But a Senate committee agreed with Brownback’s decision to allocate $600,000 in the next fiscal year.

Public broadcasters say they’ve already cut staff and are using cheaper programming. And they say they are working to increase private funding.

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Associated Press information from: The Kansas City Star