A significant portion of the meeting focused on the financial year 2026 budget, which was prepared by committee members. The budget outlines $196,197.69 in total expenses, with $54,272 allocated for operational costs and $42,000 dedicated to salaries. The capital budget is set at $30,000, reserved for emergencies. The budget reflects a $4,000 increase in salaries for videographers due to the committee covering more meetings. The committee discussed the necessity of these allocations, with some members expressing dissatisfaction with certain expenses, such as the $6,000 rent for the school building, though acknowledging its necessity.

The committee also addressed the impact of declining revenue from cable services, attributed to the increasing trend of residents switching to streaming services. This shift has resulted in a decrease in income from Comcast, which has averaged $49,000 in recent years but is projected to drop to $43,161 for calendar year 2025. The committee noted several residents opting for internet-only services to facilitate streaming, a trend that poses a long-term challenge for funding local media initiatives.

To mitigate these financial challenges, the committee is advocating for legislative support for the “Act to Modernize Funding for Community Media,” which proposes a fee on streaming companies similar to the 1984 cable act. This potential legislation aims to create a new revenue stream for community media by charging streaming services for their use of public rights of way.

Additionally, the committee reported on the performance of their investment account with Bartholomew, which has seen a $53,000 increase over 18 months, bringing the current balance to $773,759. The interest from this account, estimated at $35,543, will contribute to the committee’s income for fiscal year 2026.