Marlborough Finance Committee approves $477,000 for WMCT-TV, $34,020 for HR transition

MARLBOROUGH -- April 1, 2024, Marlborough Finance Committee approves $477,000 for public-access TV and $34,020 for HR transition. The committee voted 5-0 on April 1 to send $477,122.41 in PEG funds to the Marlborough Cable Trust for WMCT-TV's fiscal 2025 budget, a $50,147.77 increase, and 5-0 to move $34,020 from the reserve for salaries to cover a separation agreement with the city's outgoing HR director. Executive Director Ryan told the committee cable-derived revenue has dropped roughly 10 percent since 2017 as households are "cutting the cord," and pointed to pending state bills H.74 and S.34 that would tax streaming services to backstop PEG funding, with a May 8 reporting deadline. Mayor J. Christian Dumas said the HR position has been posted and applications are being accepted.