REPORT OF THE

DIVISION III BUDGET COMMITTEE

 

 

1.         ACTION ITEMS.

 

a.         2003-04 Year-To-Date Actual Expenses.  [Attachment A]

 

(1)        Recommendation. Review and approve the year-to-date 2003-04 financial results of $14,391,500 in revenue and $5,420,736 in expenses.

 

(2)        Rationale.  These figures reflect the actual expenses incurred during the second quarter of 2003-04.  Expenses are roughly the same as in the second quarter of the previous year.  Revenue has increased approximately $660,000 from the previous year.

 

(3)        Budget Impact.  Not applicable.

 

b.         2004-05 Proposed Budget.  [Attachment B]

 

(1)        Recommendation.  Review and approve the proposed budget for 2004-05.

 

(2)        Rationale. The Budget Committee recommends approval of the proposed budget for 2004-05 with projected expenses of $15,893,199 and revenue of $15,445,000.  The excess of expenses over revenue will be covered by the Division III Reserve balance.  New championships initiatives of $202,000 include  initiatives for Men’s Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Women’s Lacrosse, Rowing, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Swimming, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Women’s Volleyball.  The nonchampionships strategic initiatives budget projects a decrease of $225,980. 

 

(3)               Budget Impact.  $15,893,199 in expenses.

 

c.                   2005-06 Proposed Budget.  [Attachment B]

 

(1)         Recommendation.  Review and approve the proposed budget for 2005-06.

 

(2)        Rationale.  The Budget Committee recommends approval of the proposed budget for 2005-06 with projected expenses of $17,701,618 and revenue of $16,571,000.  The excess of expenses over revenue will be covered by the Division III Reserve balance.  New championship initiatives of $1,528,000 include automatic qualification enhancements to all team sports and an additional initiative for Men’s Ice Hockey.  The projected


nonchampionships strategic initiatives budget further decreases by $181,220.

 

(3)        Budget Impact.  $17,701,618 in expenses.

 

d.                  Division III Reserve.  [Attachment C]

 

(1)         Recommendation.  Review and approve the revised Division III operating reserve policy.

 

(2)         Rationale.   The committee’s goal was to determine a mandated reserve level as opposed to tying the reserve level to a percentage of revenue.  The committee recommends approval of the revised reserve policy, which states that the reserve shall not fall below $1,500,000 and that the reserve should continue to be treated as an operating reserve to cover budget shortfalls.  The committee is also developing a disaster recovery plan that would take effect should the Association incur a catastrophic event that would cause a significant loss of revenue (e.g., cancellation of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship).  Given the commitment to deal with a viable operating reserve and a disaster recovery plan, the committee is very concerned about the timing and format of the proposed Cross Country automatic qualification enhancement budget initiative of $928,000, currently under discussion for 2008-09.

 

(3)         Budget Impact.  Not applicable.

 

            e.         Division III Disaster Recovery Plan.  [Attachment D]

 

(1)        Recommendation.  Charge the Championships Committee with the responsibility of defining the championships component of the proposed Division III disaster recovery plan.

 

(2)        Rationale.  The Division III disaster recovery plan would be based on a catastrophic event (e.g., the cancellation of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship) occurring during any one year, with the focus on the winter and spring championships that likely would be affected.  The proposed prioritized recovery process would include first, the Division III allocation of remaining Association revenue; second, the Division III reserve balance; third, prioritized reductions to the non-championships strategic initiatives; and fourth, prioritized championships budget reductions.  The committee recommends that the Division III Championships Committee develop a plan that details how to conduct a viable championships program if such budget reductions are necessary.   The Budget Committee will review the championships recommendations and incorporate them into the overall recovery plan.  The committee also charged staff to research the cost of insurance to provide additional coverage for revenue lost, as well as to prioritize funding for the nonchampionships strategic initiatives.  The committee noted that additional, Association-wide review would be required if the catastrophic event would carry over into a second year.

 

(3)        Budget Impact.  Not applicable.

 

 

2.         INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

a.         Future Meetings.  The committee will conduct a conference call later this spring or summer to discuss any changes or issues with the 2004-05 and 2005-06 budgets and to further discuss the disaster recovery plan. 

 

b.         Association-wide Budget Planning.  The 2004-05 budget process timeline and a summary of Association-wide committee requests for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are attached.  [Attachment E]

 

Committee Chair:  Phillip C. Stone, Bridgewater College (Virginia)

Staff Liaisons:  Beth Altstadt Barnett, Administrative Services