FAMU athletics finally has a balanced budget

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For the first time in more than a decade, Florida A&M’s athletic department has a balanced yearly budget.

Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. on Wednesday told members of the university’s Special Committee on Athletics he managed to turn a projected 2016-17 year-end deficit of $651,724 into a surplus of more than $9,000.

Overton announced the original budget shortfall in December.

It wasn’t easy – Overton insisted it wasn’t a one-man effort – but Wednesday’s announcement marks a reversal of years of overspending from the athletic department.

“There were a couple of things we did to address this deficit,” Overton told the committee. “Obviously, we reduced our expenses and increased our revenue. We reduced some salaries. We’re a little more efficient in terms of personnel and how we do business.”

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