Oregon Public Broadcasting

A committee of the state Board of Higher Education will talk to Oregon’s two biggest schools Friday about their athletic budgets.  

A report to the board finds the University of Oregon closing fiscal year 2009 with a $642,000 deficit.  That’s unusual for U of O, with its strong donor base.

Oregon State University’s athletic budget deficit is much higher - -nearly $6 million for last fiscal year. But sources with the Higher Ed Board say they believe that number could soon shrink to a manageable size.

Todd Stansbury with the Oregon State athletic Department says the school expects some new money as the Pac-10 re-negotiates broadcast rights.

Todd Stansbury   “Right now the conference is looking at how to package our TV contracts in a way that will put us in a much better situation than we are currently.”

Stansbury says OSU's financial stake in TV rights is brightening.  More people are interested in the football program.

Athletic department deficits are common, but Oregon rules require them to run in the black.

The Higher Ed Board, however, has never taken strict action on spending overruns.