CIF Southern Section budget surplus results in $750,000 returned to member schools

The CIF Southern Section announced a budget surplus earlier this month, which will result in each member school receiving a rebate for their membership sport fees collected for the 2021-2022 school year. Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod made the announcement in a "Message from the Commissioner" memo sent out to schools and the community on May 16.

"This surplus is due to increased attendance at our championship playoffs, excellent oversight and control of expenses from our member schools and our staff and the continued support of our corporate sponsors who help us all keep costs down," Wigod wrote. "Through the leadership of our CIF Southern Section Executive Committee, the decision has been made to rebate the entire amount of membership sport fees collected for the 2021-2022 school year to each one of our 560 member schools."

Every school year schools pay a membership sports fee to the Southern Section of $75 per varsity sport. Because the Southern Section had such a large budget surplus this year, schools will be getting the money paid in fees back. 

"This will result in approximately $750,000 distributed to our schools, the checks will be arriving on your campuses soon, and is our way of expressing how much we appreciate all your efforts in service to young people," Wigod wrote. 

WHY THE BUDGET SURPLUS

The main factor behind the Southern Section having such a large budget surplus this year was due to increased attendance at fall and winter championship events. 

It's challenging to determine exactly why there was such a big uptick in attendance at championship events this year, according to Assistant Commissioner Thom Simmons. 

"The ticket sales increase is not something that is easily definable," Simmons said. "If I had to guess I think the overall COVID exhaustion and the opportunity for increased attendance after the lifting of attendance limitations probably resulted in more interest in 2021-22."

This school year isn't the first time the Section has returned sports fees. It also occurred following the 2014-15 school year.