(05-23-2023 03:32 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: (05-23-2023 03:18 AM)Gitanole Wrote: (05-22-2023 11:22 PM)CintiFan Wrote: https://from.wsu.edu/president/2023/athl...email.html
OK, that makes it clearer. Washington State is facing debt issues. The athletic department is carrying debt and the cash infusion it would normally expect from the conference has been compromised by the Scott-era accounting issues there.
Sounds like something has been decided at the conference level about settling affairs that has a sharper short-term effect on member schools than many expected.
System president Kirk Schulz is ordering an audit and expects the Cougar athletic department to balance its books next year.
"Relocation of the Pac‑12 headquarters out of San Francisco exceeded budget projections as well."
Can't blame that on Scott-era. The relocation budget is certainly a Kliavkoff issue.
On the contrary: The move in its entirety was necessitated by the previous commissioner. He had the conference headquarters ensconced in some pricey real estate. The purpose of the move was to lower the costs of rent and overhead—which it accomplished. It's still a substantial savings in the long run.
There were unknowns for Mr Kliavkoff in budgeting the move. The lease expired at the SF site before a new, cheaper location could be ready. Kliavkoff asked staff to work remotely in the interim. Not exactly the action of a spendthrift.
That short-term uncertainty is a drop in the bucket compared to the expenses of staying put. Scott himself, at $5M a year, was 'the highest-paid conference commissioner in the country' as of July 2020. He's gone, and so now are four highly paid execs that he hired.
Washington State sounds like it's in no shape to handle even short-term unexpected expenses. Dr Schulz does imply that the Cougars athletic department isn't maintaining adequate reserves. It's down to clipping coupons.
SI: Expenses mount in PAC SF office (2020)
https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/pac-...ncial-woes
MN: Closing the books on Scott-era spending, moving out of SF office
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/03/31/h...-spending/
USAT: PAC leaving expensive SF office (2022)
https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2022/03...r-of-2023/
SBJ: Four highly paid PAC execs cut (2023)
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Da...enure.aspx