Council committee reviews OCTFME FY26 budget, film rebate fund and studio plans

The Committee on Human Services met June 6, 2025, in Room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building and virtually to review the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment's (OCTFME) proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and related programs. Director Latoya Foster presented the agency's FY26 request and outlined recent activity in the film rebate program, creative-economy initiatives and broadcast operations.

OCTFME's FY26 budget proposal totals $14,500,000, including $7,700,000 in local funds and $6,800,000 in Special Purpose Revenue (SPR) funds, supporting 56.3 full-time equivalents, Foster told the committee. She said the agency will continue producing government media, administering the film, television and entertainment rebate fund, and operating the district's public access channels and DC Radio.

The film rebate program remains a major focus. Foster said that since FY2016 the rebate program had supported 81 qualified projects, generated about $213,100,000 in total economic impact and created more than 2,000 jobs, with 37 projects from local production companies. Her office reported a public-return figure it called $14.54 for every dollar of public investment. Committee members and staff asked about the rebate fund's remaining balance for FY25; the chair noted "about $60,000 still in the fund," and OCTFME staff said that amount was already committed to projects under review.

Industry witnesses described how the agency supports on-the-ground production. Location manager Matt Noonan said the film office is "a crucial ally" for productions that need permits, police coordination and city services and that he relies on the office as "my first kind of reach out whenever I do filming." Production company leaders Chuck West and Bree West said OCTFME helped build a local production pipeline, hire local crews and grow firms from small projects into multi‑picture and series producers; Bree West said, "When OCTFME grows, the city wins."

Representatives from the performing-arts and cultural sectors also urged sustained support. Amy Austin, president and CEO of Theatre Washington, called OCTFME "critical to the strength and visibility of Washington's creative economy," noting the agency's role in workforce and promotion programs. Ron Moten, speaking for the GoGo Museum, said the agency's support has helped restore music programming in schools and community settings and argued that "Go Go and music saves lives" by providing young people opportunities and cultural connection.

Committee members pursued several programmatic areas in questioning. Staff from OCTFME and the agency's financial officer described ongoing constraints from cord-cutting: Cassandra Fields, the agency's AFO, said the agency had seen an "overall revenue decline of about 29%" over five fiscal years and projected an average year‑over‑year SPR decline of about 7%. That decline in franchise-related SPR revenue is the primary driver of the agency's reduced SPR budget.

Workforce and creative-economy programs were another focus. Foster said the Creative Economy Career Access Program (CCAP), which partners with the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to place residents into paid training and production work, was paused for FY25 because of a citywide spending and hiring freeze tied to federal-level constraints; OCTFME staff said they expect to resume CCAP in FY26 pending funding availability. OCTFME's 2.0 2.Creates initiative and Creative Affairs activities — described as providing coworking, residencies, training and mentorship — are budgeted in a creative affairs line (the FY26 allocation for the initiative is $313,777). Foster also said the agency's Gogo Support Program has distributed more than $4,000,000 since FY2021 and that a waiver to continue GoGo activations in FY25 had been approved.

Committee members pressed OCTFME on the film rebate pipeline and studio infrastructure. Herbert Niles, associate director for film, said permitting and rebate demand remain strong: "we never end the fiscal year with money on the table for the rebate fund," and the office is reviewing applications for a major streaming feature, two streaming series seasons, two documentaries, two independent films and a music festival that could touch FY26 activity. On a permanent production studio, Foster and agency counsel Lawrence Cooper said discussions continue with Deputy Mayor's office staff, property owners and developers; Cooper said the former BET campus (a privately developed facility on DC ground‑leased land managed by Douglas Development) remains an available option for ad hoc and case‑by‑case use while the agency pursues longer‑term solutions.

The hearing also covered internal agency operations and transparency. Foster said OCTFME will seek efficiencies through internal production and increased services to other agencies and private clients; the committee asked the agency to make program funding more visible in the budget (for example, drawing out 2.0 2.Creates and the Mayor's Arts Awards as clearly labeled lines). Agency staff confirmed FY26 includes $150,000 budgeted for overtime to ensure continued broadcast and production coverage.

No formal votes or committee actions were taken at the hearing. Committee members said they would continue oversight of program reporting, pressed OCTFME to provide clearer budget line items for creative-economy initiatives, and invited continued updates on studio negotiations, the rebate fund pipeline and plans to relaunch CCAP in FY26.

The committee recorded the hearing's close at 11:48 a.m.