Metro Cable Commission adopts preliminary FY25-26 budgets, forms ad hoc committee as franchise revenues fall

The Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission on June 13 approved preliminary fiscal year 2025–26 general fund and public-education-and-government (PEG) fee budgets and authorized formation of a budget-priorities ad hoc committee to advise the commission on how to respond to falling franchise-fee revenues.

Commission Executive Director Sean (executive director) told members the top revenue line is falling while expenses are rising, and the preliminary plan relies in part on cash reserves to meet next year’s distribution targets. "You can see that that top line is diminishing revenue. The bottom line is you're increasing expenses," Sean said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the commission administers cable franchise and PEG funding that support Metro 14, community programming, and per‑capita distributions to JPA members across Sacramento County. Staff told commissioners the primary revenue source — the 5% cable franchise fee — is shrinking as households "cut the cord" and adopt streaming services that do not generate…