The Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority narrowly voted Tuesday to fund a statewide survey of Alabama residents amid heated disagreements among board members and public criticism of the use of foundation money.
The board voted in April to hire McLaughlin & Associates to conduct the scientific survey. Tuesday’s vote authorized the foundation to use its rainy-day fund for the survey, though the board did not approve a final price. The motion capped the cost at $47,500 and directed the foundation to budget for a similar poll about one year later.
“We’re just voting on the fact that it’s gonna come out of rainy day for us. The amount to be decided later, after we get further clarification from McLaughlin,” board Vice Chair William Green said.
The motion passed 6-2 in a roll-call vote, with board members Pete Conroy and Logan Glass opposed.
“That’s not fiscally responsible, what we just did, and it’s disingenuous to our donors,” Glass said after the vote.
The decision followed a debate over whether the foundation could appropriately use its rainy-day fund for the survey.
Conroy questioned whether the survey qualified as an emergency, noting that foundation policy restricts the fund to emergency purposes.
“Recognizing that the rainy day fund is for emergencies only, are we calling this an emergency survey?” Conroy asked.
Foundation Chairman Ferris Stephens responded that the foundation had established the policy governing the fund and had the authority to determine how to use it.
Public commenters also criticized the survey and questioned the foundation’s financial decisions.
The board’s action prompted a discussion about the foundation’s fundraising efforts and its ability to withstand reductions in government funding.
Board member Dick Brewbaker argued that the foundation should focus on growing its endowment, which he said totaled about $6 million, to give Alabama Public Television a financial cushion during future funding reductions.
Brewbaker said the foundation should ask major corporate donors to contribute to the endowment instead of relying primarily on annual funding.
“Let’s face it, Alabama’s fortunate. Alabama Power is a good corporate citizen. Blue Cross Blue Shield is a good corporate citizen. When it comes to helping state agencies. And, you know, we can go to these people, especially now. At this moment, when the federal government has cut the budget for a popular activity, like APT, and ask,” Brewbaker said.
During the meeting, board members noted that the foundation had previously voted not to raise money and proposed rescinding the fundraising restriction. The board unanimously voted to rescind it.
The vote to proceed with the survey did not commit the foundation to a specific contract or expenditure. Members said they would meet again after receiving answers to outstanding questions about the agreement with McLaughlin & Associates.
At its next meeting, the foundation authority will determine the final amount to spend on the survey, up to the approved limit of $47,500.
