MCS General Fund Update

[TigerCoach]

Here's some great news for all of you who donated $300 for new football uniforms:

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Just what I (and Carle) have been telling you. The school is charging their own internal "departments" for expenses like janitorial overtime, bussing, etc. while the general fund is growing in leaps and bounds!:thumbsdown:

[xtiger]

I would like to know just exactly how much revenue the Tiger
Football program generates on an annual basis?? This inquiring mind
wants to know.

TC, can you help me out??

[austinsm11]

TigerCoach,

I know that you posted that information a while ago about the janitor overtime, etc.

Could you please post this again? Also curious where you got the information from.

I thought, if i recall, you mentioned about the school district taking money out of the athletic department to cover other expenses.

[TigerCoach]

Here's a "Reader's Digest" version of what I think I said,

For the last couple years, the Treasurer's Office has been charging programs (Football, Basketball, etc, Speech Team, Choir, any extra-curricular activity) for the use and maintenance of facilities, bussing, janitorial expenses, etc.

For example, bussing to athletic events is now taken out of the athletic budget. That can add up real fast! I know the basketball program was charged roughly $30,000 last season for bussing alone, which leaves them fighting for new uniforms and supplies, etc. This is exactly why the football program needed to solicit donations for new uniforms. They spent a big portion of the budget on bussing, tape, drinks, etc (and about 1000 other things involved with running a football program).

The WHS Speech Team holds an annual district speech tournament every spring. They get a bill from the Treasurer's Office for almost $1000 for "rent" of the WHS auditorium and janitorial overtime. I'm sure anyone else who uses the auditorium or gym gets the same treatment.

All of these expenses at one point used to be absorbed into the cost of running the school. After all, they are part of the school system aren't they? I don't know when exactly this accounting method started, but I'm sure it had something to do with the district emerging from fiscal emergency.

I don't want to reveal my sources, but let's just say I'm very close to some coaches. I'm also in the Massillon Rotary Club and we write the check for the WHS Speech Team to cover these costs, and it was explained to me firsthand why the new costs.

I may not have all the details, but you should get the point here.

[austinsm11]

Thanks TigerCoach.

Not sure where I stand on this. I was thinking that I don't see why bussing coming from the athletic department would be a big deal. It is being used for Athletics. Then I wondered what extracurricular activities that don't bring in money would do. I don't think the speech team really brings in any money, does it?


I can see how this would be a problem if it was all of a sudden dumped on athletics and extra-curriculars. Getting this thrown at you at the last minute would kill anyones budget.

[TigerCoach]

Well, the way I see it, bussing should be an expense of the school district. The kids are representing the school, and in the case of football and basketball teams, are generating revenue for the school. Besides, who pays for the kids to ride the bus to school everyday and back? In an extreme way, what would happen if the football team budget ran out of money and they couldn't afford to pay for busses to the state championship game? You've already brought up the "non-revenue" sports. Who pays for bussing for the tennis, track, wrestling, etc. teams? I think it may come from a general "athletic fund" versus the specific program.

The Speech Team doesn't generate any revenue, as don't other programs I'm sure. Making these types of programs pay "rent" to use their own school could lead to them not having any programs unless they have a sponsor like the Speech Team does.

Overall, it's a sore subject with me because it affects the kids.

[austinsm11]

Did the bussing money come out of the basketball/football budget or this general athletic fund?


I guess another question would be what other programs have to pay.
Does the choir or band have to pay for expenses after concerts at the high school? What about after a play is performed?

[TigerCoach]

I'm pretty sure the bussing expense comes out of the specific sports' budget. As for the other programs like the Speech Team, I'm assuming they get the same treatment.

I went back and read that article again. $10.6 million budget carryover. I'm not a CPA or tax attorney, but how does a non-profit organization like the school district have such a big carryover? Isn't there a limit on that? I was President of a small non-profit organization and we were restricted to a $500 carryover. Any CPA's or tax lawyers who know about this?

[DB135]

2005 Massillon School District State Audit:

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