Metro Cable commissioners approve preliminary budgets, form ad hoc to set priorities as revenues fall

The Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission on June 13 approved preliminary FY2025–26 general fund and public education and government (PEG) fee budgets and agreed to form a budget-priorities ad hoc committee after the commission's executive director warned that franchise-fee revenue has declined and that the organization could face difficult choices in coming years.

Sean (executive director) told commissioners the top-line revenue trend is down while expenses are rising; to meet the preliminary FY2025'16 distribution he said the commission is "ringing cash out" and showed a projected per-capita distribution figure of $6,314,842 compared with an alternate calculation of $5,496,283 if cash is not drawn. He said the commission is holding roughly $1.5 million in operating reserves and recommended formation of a small ad hoc committee to set priorities for the next 12'0 months.

The warning came during a public hearing on the preliminary general fund budget. After public comments emphasizing the value of Metro 14 and community access, Vice Chair Garrett Gatewood moved to close…