The association has been keeping a tight rein on the finances and returned a small deficit of $9470 for the financial period ended July 31.
Net working capital available to the OCA has actually increased from $506,183 to $537,919, so the association is in a sound financial position.
But they will need that leeway.
Chief executive Mike Coggan said the association was budgeting on a chunky loss for the financial year ending July 31, 2025 before bouncing back with a forecast surplus of $50,000 in the following period.
"[The net working capital has] strengthened, which is important because this next year, with the way the economy is, and all businesses are really hurting, we're budgeting a $100,000 loss," Coggan said.
"In my time, we've made surpluses all the way through."
Coggan joined the association in 2015.
"From our point of view, the cost of delivering domestic cricket just keeps going up and up each year.
"And this year, because of the state of the economy, we haven't been so successful as yet in replacing some of those sponsors that came off last year.
"We've still got time and we're working through that ahead of the Super Smash."
Everything has gone up. The catering is more expensive, the cost of apparel has gone up, and match fees and match costs are on an upwards trajectory as well.
Cricket balls are not getting any cheaper, and the OCA buys a lot of them.
"Every year it's going up by anything from 5% to 8%. Which, when you think about it, on, say, a $3-3.5 million cost to run domestic cricket, that's a lot.
"But there is a review with New Zealand Cricket and the major associations around just how do we best serve our game financially."
The OCA held its annual meeting last night.
Billy Ibadulla was made a posthumous life member of the association for his outstanding contribution to cricket across Otago. Ibadulla, who died in Dunedin in July, emigrated to New Zealand in 1976 having previously played for Otago.
Following his retirement as a player, he turned his hand to coaching and was influential in the careers of some of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers, including Ken Rutherford, Chris Cairns and most notably Glenn Turner.
Four other people where made honorary members: Neil Rosenberg, Ken Rust, John Cushen and Gerard Finnie.
Rosenberg coached the St Hilda’s First XI for decades. Many of his former players went on to represent their province and country.
Rust was involved in the cricket programmes at Otago Boys’ for more than 20 years and, like Rosenberg, made a major contribution in fostering young talent.
Cushen has long championed the game as a player, administrator and ambassador, while Finnie has been heavily involved in coaching and administering district cricket since 2007.
There is a change on the board. Renuka Bayly has stepped down after serving a two-year term and will be replaced by accountant Gemma Sheed.
