Public media director says proposed FY26 budget adds parking, expands streaming and maintains services

Jason Gabriel, director of the mayor's Office of Community Media, presented the Office's FY26 budget to the Lansing City Council and answered council questions about operational impacts.

Gabriel said the department's primary change in the proposed budget is a parking allocation tied to a relocation: "parking was added to our budget to accommodate" the move from the South Washington office complex. He told council there are no proposed program eliminations or rate/fee increases and that the department has had no staffing departures in the past year.

On services, Gabriel said the office has increased responsibilities for live coverage and streaming of additional commission and committee meetings and has added the ability for virtual comment in live meetings. He said major equipment purchases are not included in the current budget but the office will seek funding later to update aging video systems.

Council questions focused on how the $13,500 parking figure was calculated and on insurance/bond cost increases. The internal auditor explained the parking estimate: nine full- and part-time employees at about $123 per month each annualized and rounded accounted for the $13,500 figure. Gabriel said insurance and bond increases reflect a citywide allocation and a roughly 2 percent increase across departments.

Gabriel also said 3-1-1 has not altered his department's operations because the office schedules and troubleshoots field technology by phone rather than through 3-1-1. He invited council members to tour the Lansing Public Media Center and highlighted outreach to students, veterans and returning citizens.

Ending: Council thanked Gabriel for the presentation; no formal Council action was taken during the item.