Council committee presses OCTO on $165.7 million FY26 proposal, public‑safety cameras and federal broadband funding

The Committee on Public Works and Operations heard testimony June 12 on Mayor Muriel Bowser—s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). Stephen Miller, OCTO chief technology officer, said the proposal includes an operating request of $165,728,818 and a capital request of $15,941,638.

Miller told the committee the proposal relies heavily on federal and special‑purpose revenue: "The proposed budget for OCTO includes $93,000,000 in local funds, $27,000,000 in special purpose funds, $46,000,000 in federal funds, and $16,000,000 in capital funds," he said. He also described a $3.7 million local enhancement to begin a multi‑year modernization of government camera systems and said some SPR increases align with new federal customers coming on to DC Net.

Why this matters: the committee pressed OCTO for detail on projects that affect public safety, resident services and the district—s use of federal broadband dollars. Council members sought clarity on timelines, security, and how grants such as BEAD will be spent given recent federal guidance and mapping changes.

OCTO—s priorities and projects OCTO—s testimony and budget documents identify several major projects: a multi‑year public‑safety camera…