The Estevan Minor Hockey Association held its fall annual general meeting on Aug. 28, reviewing the budget for the upcoming season and reviewing existing and new business.
The organization is budgeting a deficit of $4,195 for the 2013-14 season, with $292,400 in income and $296,595 in expenditures.
The cost of ice rental, which is the largest expense each year for the EMHA, is going up significantly, with a 21 per cent hike seeing the cost go from $70 an hour to $85.
That means the association will pay $161,000 in rental fees this season, an increase of more than $18,000.
The other major increase in expenses comes from the board's decision to hire an administrative assistant to take care of registrations, ice scheduling and other duties. The position pays $25,000, which is up from the original proposal of $20,160. Heather Langstaff has been hired for the position.
Both of those expenses are reflected in higher registration fees for this year. The organization is budgeted to bring in $223,600 in registration fees, which is up from $184,315.39 last season.
The minor hockey board has filled most of the positions left vacant after its spring AGM, although two positions, ways and means and registration and publicity, are still vacant.
It was noted at the meeting that there is a new equipment policy. Since some teams have had trouble with players not returning their jerseys at the end of the year, every registration must include a $100 cheque post-dated to April 1. The cheque will be cashed at the end of the season if the child's jersey is not returned.
Doug Martin asked the board to "remove the protectionism" and allow more out-of-town players to play for EMHA teams, leading to a lengthy discussion.
Minor hockey president Kelly Kjersem responded that none of the teams' limits on out-of-town players were filled last year as is, and it is up to other centres to release players to Estevan if they wish.
Another suggestion by Martin was that the board should consider out-of-town players to be Estevan players after two years under the EMHA banner, instead of grandfathering them after three years under the current rule.
Kjersem said the proposal would be taken under consideration at the next meeting.
