The deficit the Univ. of Hawaii's athletic department is facing for the fiscal year ending June 30 “is expected to be the biggest in its history,” according to Ferd Lewis of the HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER. UH AD David Matlin expects to report a deficit of $4.2-4.4M, a $400,000 jump "above the preliminary estimate” of $3.8-4M in May. Matlin: “The difference was some revenues that were anticipated to come in didn’t come in. And some expenses ended up being a little higher.” Matlin also said less money than expected "came in on some of the fundraising arms.” Lewis noted UH has faced "higher personnel costs due to the changes in athletic directors and basketball coaching staffs.” This marks the "fourth consecutive deficit year -- and 12th in 14 years" -- for the school (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 7/8). In Hawaii, Lorin Eleni Gill cited a recent study showing that UH gets the "lowest percentage of subsidy support compared to its fellow Big West Conference members." About 44% of the school's athletic budget "was subsidized by state funds and student fees last year. UH Dir of Media Production Dan Meisenzahl said that the school paid around $1.3M "in conference travel subsidies this year." But he added that dropping out of the Big West and becoming an independent "would make game scheduling more difficult" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/8).
