Public radio $5.4M budget approved

LIHUE — Hawaii Public Radio’s Board of Directors capped their first meeting of the fiscal year on July 24 by approving a 2017-2018 budget showing revenue of $5.49 million.

This is an increase of 1.8 percent over the station’s fiscal year 2017’s projected year-end revenue. HPR, a 35-year-old independent nonprofit, generates 94 percent of its support from local individuals, families, businesses, and foundations.

Station membership totals 13,900 individual donors.

“Our revenue projections for this coming year are a reflection of our confidence in our community and our product,” said HPR President and General Manager José A. Fajardo.

Among the added costs for the coming year is the investment in two new full-time staff positions, plus increased programming costs, a direct result of listenership growth and revenue increases.

“Exceeding revenue goals and careful management of station expenses in FY 2017, allows us to grow expenses more than revenues in this coming year, while still maintaining a balanced budget,” Fajardo said. “Meeting our targets will provide us with a nearly $200,000 surplus that will cover anticipated capital expenditures and improvements.”