Linda D. Robertson Associate Executive Director for Business

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Myth # 1 FHSAA was created by Florida Law

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth Opened as a Private Corporation – operating out of UF’s Peabody Hall Organized and formed by coaches seeking fair play

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth 1952 – Designated a Non-Profit Private Corporation Governed by its Public & Private School MEMBERS

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth Nothing in Florida Statues for first 76 years Legislation in Florida Statutes Named the governing organization for HS athletics for PUBLIC schools (no option) 2012 – HB 1403 changed eligibility rules on transfers 2013 – HB 1279 failed to pass – would have terminated FHSAA as public school governing organization

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Myth # 2 Perceived as relying on Public Funds (taxes)

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth ZERO state funding or direct tax dollars $0

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth 7% INDIRECTLY from Public funds

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth What Are Public Funds? “Public fund refers to the funds of every political division of a state wherein taxes are levied for public purposes.” - uslegal.om

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth: The State of Florida funds Public Schools through the FEFP (Florida Education Finance Program) FEFP does NOT provide funding for Athletics or Extra Curricular Activities

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth Public Schools rely heavily on Activity Funds from ticket sales, fund raisers and donations to fund Athletics Most Public Schools use NON-PUBLIC funds to pay FHSAA dues & fines

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Myth #3: Perceived as relying on Penalties/Fines for funding source = $

The Business of FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth Less than 6% of resources are Fines

The Business of the FHSAA – Myths & Truth Truth: You can Define the Purpose of a Business by where it gets its money and how it spends its money

The Business of the FHSAA – Myths & Truth You can Define the Purpose of a Business by where it gets its money and how it spends its money Myth #4: FHSAA is primarily regulatory in nature, a quasi-state agency

Where Money Comes From $5,200,000

Where Money Goes - $5,300,000

The Business of the FHSAA – Myths & Truth You can Define the Purpose of a Business by where it gets its money and how it spends its money Truth: 91% of expense is Event Management, Officials, Training & Publications 9% of expense is Compliance and Eligibility FHSAA gets ZERO from the State FHSAA is a Non-Profit Private Corporation

Did You Know? 90+ years ago……FHSAA Members determined State Championships should be organized & the PRIMARY Source of funding for the FHSAA

Did You Know? The First State Championships were in Boys Basketball -Baseball -Tennis 32 State Championships in

Did You Know? State Championship Series = 45% of Total Resources $2.25 Million out of $5.2 Million Budget

Did You Know? FHSAA Members through representatives - determine By-Law & Policy on School’s Share of State Playoffs

Did You Know? 3,100+ State Series Events were Hosted by Schools Schools Share Gate Receipts for District & Region: 100% of gate for 24 sports 85% of gate for 7 sports 75% of gate for football

Did You Know? FHSAA State Series Generates Millions for High School’s Athletic Programs Raised $7.5 Million in – for Schools (Gate receipts, concessions, parking)

Did You Know? FHSAA State Championships: 277 Finals Events Hosted by FHSAA each Year $1.2 Million per year – for FHSAA Funds used to pay: Participating teams Officials Trophies Other event costs

Did You Know? Over the past 2 years, FHSAA has redirected significant funds to schools A Few Examples: Football Classics pay FHSAA $54,000 Less Membership Dues are $215,000 Less FHSAA share of District & Region is $20,000 Less

Financial Goal “Fund the organization with 100% ticket sales from State Finals, Sponsorships, Media contracts, and Royalties so there is No Financial Burden to our Schools”

What’s Next? 3 yr Plan – Fee Adjustments 1. Eliminate FHSAA share of gate for State Series Dist/Region for Individual Sports – was 15% (CC, SW, TRK, WR) – NOW Zero Shared Eliminate/Reduce Tournament Sanction Fees 3. Eliminate/Reduce FHSAA membership and Legal fees

Myth #5: The only way to change FHSAA rules is by Statute

The Truth Eligibility rules, Fees, Dues and Revenue sharing are developed in By-Law and Policy from elected representation of our MEMBER SCHOOLS Representative Assembly FHSAA Board of Directors

What IF HB1279 Had Passed? 1. Governance of the FHSAA would have been removed from its Member’s control 2. Eligibility Rules severely changed 3. Executive Director and Board would be replaced 4. Restrictions on funding the Organization determined by Legislature – designed to financially strangle the Corporation in 4 years 5. FHSAA terminated in 4 years as Public School governing organization

Bottom Line FHSAA was formed 93 yrs ago by schools FHSAA By-Laws & Policy are written by member schools YOU ARE THE FHSAA!