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Community Media Committee recommends $303,286 for BedfordTV in FY2027 budget
Summary
The Community Media Committee recommended including $303,286 in the FY2027 town budget to support BedfordTV operations, rent, and capital expenditures (including ADA captioning equipment required by April 2027); the recommendation is contingent on PEG fund revenue from cable providers.
Matthew Porter, chair of the Community Media Committee, presented the committee’s review of Bedford Community Access Television, Inc.’s FY2027 proposal and recommended that the Select Board include $303,286 in the town budget for BedfordTV. The recommended total breaks down to $252,536 for operating expenses, $35,000 for studio rent at Old Town Hall, and $15,750 for capital equipment to support production and ADA-required captioning.
Porter told the board the request represents a 4.2% increase over FY26, driven mainly by salary and insurance adjustments; capital spending increased about 44.9% to cover captioning equipment required for government programming beginning in April 2027. Porter and Bedford TV executive director Brian Hebert noted the recommendation is contingent on sufficient revenue flowing into the PEG access special revenue account from cable providers; contributions have declined as residents shift toward streaming. The committee said it will review SRA finances going forward and that forecasts have historically been provided to the Finance Committee.
