IHSA gets clean bill of financial health

SPRINGFIELD -- There are no problems with the Illinois High School Association's finances, according to a state audit released Thursday.

The audit revealed that the IHSA took in nearly $6.85 million in its 2007 budget year, while expenses totaled $6.58 million. Administrative costs accounted for almost half the group's total expenses at more than $3.28 million.

"That's typical of what's happened in the last several years," Marty Hickman, executive director of the Illinois High School Association, said of the report. "It certainly wasn't surprising to us."

Although the IHSA is not a state agency, it has been subjected to state audits for years. The latest findings come at a time when the sports association finds itself in the media and political spotlights.

In recent months, the association has butted heads with the Illinois newspaper industry over a policy banning photographers from sidelines at championship tournaments unless they and the media outlets they work for agree not to sell the pictures. In response, the Illinois Press Association has sought legislation in the General Assembly to thwart those plans. A suburban lawmaker has also called for additional audits of the IHSA policies.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that we can resolve this without playing the legislative remedy out to the end," said Dave Bennett, executive director of the Illinois Press Association. "Virtually everybody that we've talked to has not agreed with IHSA."