There seem to have been some warning signs of financial crisis at WTVP-TV 47

 Revelations about financial irregularities were announced in October by WTVP-TV 47, but according to the most recent tax return Form 990 filed by WTVP/Illinois Valley Public Telecommunication Corp. (IVPTC), there were hints at trouble months earlier.

In the document filed May 10 this year, total revenue was $4,418,346 and total expenses were $4,826,318. From the previous year, contributions and grants were down $303,625, and expenses were up $524,322. Listed separately, salaries and other employee compensation were reported to have increased $391,328 during that period.

Form 990 – submitted to the government by tax-exempt organizations – notes that “the tax return is provided to members of the board of directors” and “the executive committee of the board of directors determines the compensation of all employees.”

One salary that increased was to Lesley Matuszak, WTVP’s president who resigned Sept. 27 and was found dead at her home the next day. Her compensation is reported to have gone from $150,000 in 2020 to $170,146 ($140,146 plus $26,000 in unspecified compensation) in 2021, to $176,084 plus the additional $26,000 in 2022.

The station lists as IVPTC’s volunteer Board of Directors: Kim Armstrong, Helen Barrick, Amanda Campbell, Wayne Cannon, Amanda Campbell, Andrew Chambers, Alex Crowley, John Day, Dawn Dinh, Jessica Ford, Monica Hendrickson, Jerry Herbstreith, Stephen Morris, Andrew Rand, Sid Ruckriegel, Stephen Shipley, Sally Snyder and Ashley Spain.

According to WTVP’s original charter, published in 1969, the board was to include representatives from Bradley University, Illinois Central College, Lakeview Museum, Pekin Public Schools, and Peoria Public Schools. Besides Armstrong, an ICC administrator, it’s unclear who has what affiliation, but there seem to be several connections between an apparently close-knit group. Of the 17 board members, five also serve on one or more of the boards of Advanced Medical Transport, Carver Center, Heartland Health Services, the Heart of Illinois United Way, Peoria Hospitals Mobile Medical Services, and the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

Also, three board members and Matuszak contributed to fellow board member Ruckriegel’s unsuccessful campaign for Peoria Mayor in 2021.

Within days of board chairman Rand announcing a 30% budget cut last month, the station laid off nine employees. Comparing the company’s online staff directory between Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, eight names were removed: Theresa Aten, Ryan Benton, Chris Buckely, Scott Fishel, Taryn Klockenga, Bill Porter, Kathy Withers and Thomas Zimmerman. Also, the station’s Peoria magazine, edited by Mike Bailey, suspended publication “for the foreseeable future,” WTVP announced Oct. 20.