Recently participants in the very successful High Intensity Program were each given a refund of $10 when the number of participants allowed the costs of court hire and coach honorariums to be spread across extra participants.

Last weekend all teams playing in the Hoop It Up 3-on-3 Carnival were refunded $45 in nomination fees because the event was condensed from 2 days to one - therefore saving on court hire and referee payments.

This week the association will begin paying refunds to the teams playing in our Primary and High School competitions who have received a forfeit during the competitions presently underway.

The association acknowledges that it is a rare thing indeed to get money back after you've paid for a program, but all of the directors are keen to keep faith with our members in relation to our claim that we are not a money making organisation.

The finances of CHBA are an open book to its members and the astute observer will be able to find the audited financial statements of the association elsewhere on our website.

While the Association is a not-for-profit incorporated body, it is the responsibility of the directors to make sure that fees and charges cover all operating costs so as to prevent insolvency.

Members who are critical of the fees and charges for the various programs will be alarmed to read in the financial statements that the association made a significant operating loss in both 2012 (almost $20K) and 2013 ($15.5K) and it is only the accumnulated reserves which have allowed the association to continue to trade.

The association remains committed to only charging what is needed to run its programs and in the last few weeks has been able to return funds to customers when program revenue exceeded budgets.

There are some financial headwinds on the horizon.  

Earlier this year, Coffs Harbour City Council increased its court hire charges for the use by CHBA of Sportz Central.  These increased charges came into effect from July first, but CHBA decided to absorb these extra costs without increasing competition fees.

New operators of Sportz Central, Basketball New South Wales have forshadowed that they will be seeking a further increase to fees and charges in 2015.  If this is approved, as surely as night follows day, the association will need to increase its competition and training fees.

One of the key performance indicators for new General Manager Steve Smith is to turn around trhe dwindling finances of the organisation.  If he needed any motivation, the news that if he fails to do so, there will be no funds to continue his employment will certainly grab his attention.
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