An additional $55,000 for the games management budget was approved by the NIU Athletic Board Wednesday at its monthly meeting.

Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell, who did not attend the meeting, sent a memo to the board requesting the extra money.

“Entering this current fiscal year, the athletic budgets have been reduced by $94,000 due to state funding recession. These funds were primarily used to cover extra help, student help, and officials. As a result, the games management budget must be adjusted to reflect these costs.

“Therefore, we are requesting that the games management budget be increased $55,000 to cover these expenses,” according to the memo.

Unanimously, the board consented to the increase.

The additional money will come from the 1992 anticipated carry-over funds. In the FY 1991 Fourth Quarterly Report, it was noted that the athletic department brought in $77,045 more than it spent in 1991.

The total games management expenditures equaled $147,402 in 1991.

‘The board also unanimously approved of an additional 60 complimentary football tickets. The previous number of free tickets given out by those affiliated with the football team stood at 1,078. With the extra 60 tickets approved, the total now stands at 1,138.

Team managers and student trainers are allotted four tickets each; the football staff gets a total of 80 tickets with head coach Charlie Sadler handing out 10, excluding his family members; the medical staff and development department get 24 freebies each; and O’Dell has 20 tickets available—14 for the skybox and six regular seats.