UNLV offers budget change

It might seem like one of those "Turn Back The Clock" promotions, as UNLV coaches will get a chance to supplement their operating budgets (as well as generate marketing and promotional ventures) if they're willing to put in the time and effort.

For the first time in seven years, coaches will have the opportunity to raise money to promote their programs. UNLV had hired two people to handle such duties for its Olympic sports, but the effort failed to bring about the desired result.

The plan coincides with the expected approval of the athletic department's $10.2 million budget for the 1998-99 season. The Board of Regents will review the budget, part of UNLV's $114 million overall budget, during its meeting Friday in Reno.

The department's budget was balanced two weeks ago. Approximately $200,000 in additional cuts were made to ensure the budget stays balanced throughout the year.

"It's a tight budget on the revenue side," UNLV President Dr. Carol Harter said of the athletic budget, which relies predominantly on revenue from ticket sales, television and the Western Athletic Conference to make ends meet. "We have to hope we hit our numbers, though I think they're projecting them conservatively."

UNLV's budget is up slightly from this past year's $9.8 million. The addition of women's soccer as well as an additional $293,000 to fund the school's gender equity requirements account for most of the $400,000 increase.

Back in April, the athletic department was looking at a potential deficit of $750,000. However, the deficit was made up through administrative cuts, an increase in projected revenue from the scholarship donor program as well as TV and bowl revenue from the WAC, plus an additional $100,000 in tuition fee waivers.

No sport's operating budget was cut. Conversely, no sport received an increase of any significance, although women's basketball will have additional money to reflect the higher salaries paid to first-year coach Regina Miller and her staff.

"That's obviously huge," men's soccer coach Barry Barto said about the programs retaining their operating budgets. "But it all goes back to the idea that if you don't have the money, don't spend it.

"Over the course of my tenure here (17 years), we've spent money we didn't have and that has created problems year after year. I'd like to think this is the first step in doing things more simply."

Baseball coach Rod Soesbe also was glad to hear the news.

"I was concerned a little," he said. "But even though our operating didn't get cut, it's still not enough. But at least now I can go out and raise the money we need.

"I like the idea of the harder you work, the more you get rewarded."

Barto believes he can raise between $5,000-$10,000 to help promote Rebel soccer.

"Obviously, it's going to take some work, but that money can go a long way," he said.

"If we're able to generate more money and put some of it toward our recruiting budget and it helps us get a kid who puts us over the top, that's big."

UNLV officials won't make the numbers public until the budget officially is approved by the regents. However, the key revenue numbers are the $475,000 the school netted from the WAC as well as the additional $275,000 projected to be gained from the scholarship donor program.

This year, the donor program brought in $4.4 million. Next year, thanks to the sports marketing department's "equitizing" program, that number will rise to at least $4.75 million.

Equitizing is a formula by which all scholarship donor season-ticket holders pay the same price for the same seat location. The program is in its second year.

UNLV also expects an increase in revenues from its licensing agreement with the NCAA to net over $100,000.

Throw in the $100,000 in tuition fee waivers plus the administrative cuts that saved close to $200,000 more, and the athletic department has a balanced and manageable budget.

"When your budget is 80 percent self-determined, it's important that your projections be realistic," Harter said. "I'm comfortable with the numbers."

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