(11-16-23) From the OHSAA Board of Directors October 26th meeting –

C. OHSAA Financial Report Through September 30, 2023
Controller Laura Vermilya provided the financial report through September. Without much income since
the beginning of the 2023 24 fiscal year, she said the OHSAA currently has $7.1 million of operating cash; $8.7 million in investments and board designated funds, and $15.8 million in total funds. The latter amount can cover 8.5 months of expenses. The financial report is summarized as follows

One thing the OHSAA does not have a problem with is funds that they have stored away….lots of money.

  • Athletic Enrichment fund—$2,055,595
  • Morgan Stanley Investments —$8,138,070

The vote to approve the financial report was 9-0.

RELATED:

The OHSAA recently came under scrutiny for playoff ticket prices, one being that they are to high. After a movement by the Ohio State legislature they made a small change.

The OHSAA continues to reap the benefits of the ticket income from playoff games…keeping it all, while paying very little of the expenses to the host school. Travel expenses are not reimbursed for visiting teams. plus they keep all of the broadcasting income from playoff games.

Member schools are still charged fees each year to compete by each sport that they participate in.

Meanwhile school districts are fighting to keep their heads above water. This past week the Coldwater School BOE voted to add a large upgrade levy to their school income tax.

Coldwater, a member of the very successful Midwest Athletic Conference, has a very successful athletic program and the school administration has also stepped forward to host numerous playoff activities. The financial impact of that continues to cut into their budget. You shouldn’t be punished for being successful.

Celina Daily Standard story — Coldwater school board seek steep hike in tax

This week…Coldwater School board members approved a levy to more than triple the income tax rate to 1.75% to help offset deficit spending that has afflicted the district the last few years.

How long will this go on? Until the member schools decide that they need more input into the process. Running a non-profit state athletic association should not be a ‘cash cow‘…it should be one that provides support for its members. It is not working that way at this time.

What does it mean to be called a cash cow?

1. : a consistently profitable business, property, or product whose profits are used to finance a company’s investments in other areas. 2. : one regarded or exploited as a reliable source of money.