Special Olympics Organization Grapples with Budget Deficit

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — Organizers of Special Olympics Idaho, which manages team's finances and has an annual budget of about $1 million, are grappling with a $150,000 deficit that they say is a result of state mismanagement.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that Special Olympics Idaho Vice President of Operations Dallas Leatham said the shortage could mean teams are turned away from venues. Leatham says the deficit was caused by canceled fundraisers and overspending at the State Summer Games, hosted at the University of Idaho.

Leatham says he is confident fundraising events will close the budget gap by the beginning of 2016 and that Special Olympics teams will be able to resume regular events.