Olympic Regional Development Authority

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Agency Web Site: https://orda.org/Link to External Website

Mission

The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was established in 1981 to create and administer a post-Olympic program for the facilities and venues utilized during the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. These facilities include: the Olympic Ice Center; the Olympic Speedskating Oval; the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area and Veterans’ Memorial Highway; the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Complex that includes bobsled and luge runs, cross-country ski trails and a biathlon range; the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex; and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. In 1984, ORDA’s responsibility expanded to include the management of the Gore Mountain Ski Center in North Creek, Warren County, and in 2012, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Shandaken, Ulster County.

Organization and Staffing

ORDA is headed by a CEO and governed by a 10 person board comprised of Executive, Legislative and Local appointees.

Budget Highlights

The State has historically provided a subsidy for a portion of ORDA’s budget. The Executive Budget recommends $107.1 million in appropriations for ORDA. This includes $11.09 million in operating support , an increase of $1 million and $80 million in capital support, an increase of $20 million. This also includes a $16 million appropriation in connection with legislation that would authorize ORDA to be able to defend, indemnify and/or insure third parties in connection with the 2023 World University Games.

Major budget actions include:

  • $70 million in new capital funding to implement a strategic plan to modernize ORDA's facilities and venues, including investments to support the 2023 World University Games.
  • $10 million in new capital funding for energy efficiency and renovation projects that will allow the Authority to reduce operating and maintenance costs at ORDA facilities and venues.
  • ORDA will also receive $2.5 million in New York Works infrastructure capital funding which will be sub-allocated to ORDA from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s New York Works appropriation. ORDA will use these funds to perform a variety of capital improvement projects at the Authority’s facilities.
  • Increased operating support to continued preservation and maintenance of Olympic facilities and ski resorts.

Program Highlights

The Olympic Regional Development Authority manages one of four primary sites (the others being in California, Colorado and Utah) for year-round training of America’s Olympic athletes. In recent years, the Olympic facilities at Lake Placid received more than 800,000 visitors. The Authority hosts numerous national and international athletic and entertainment events. Additionally, major events included: the NCAA ECAC Men’s Hockey Championships; Lake Placid Freestyle Skating Championships; Lake Placid Ice Dancing Championships; Eastern Synchronized Skating Championships; World Cups in Bobsled/Skeleton and Luge; the 2014-15 Ski Freestyle World Cup; Miracle on Ice 35th Reunion, Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp and several festivals and shows.

The Authority also manages the Gore, Whiteface Mountain, and Belleayre ski centers, three major downhill ski facilities that received more than 575,000 visitors in the past couple ski seasons, and over 275,000 visitors for off-season activities such as mountain biking and sightseeing tours.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 10,090,000 27,090,000 17,000,000 0
Capital Projects 60,000,000 80,000,000 20,000,000 46,000,000
Total 70,090,000 107,090,000 37,000,000 46,000,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 9,940,000 26,940,000 17,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 150,000 150,000 0
Total 10,090,000 27,090,000 17,000,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Olympic Facilities Operations
General Fund 9,940,000 26,940,000 17,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 150,000 150,000 0
Total 10,090,000 27,090,000 17,000,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 5,595,000 0 5,595,000 0
Total 5,595,000 0 5,595,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 21,345,000 17,000,000 2,188,000 (1,000,000)
Total 21,345,000 17,000,000 2,188,000 (1,000,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Contractual Services
Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 18,000,000 18,000,000
Total 18,000,000 18,000,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program General State Charges
Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 1,157,000 0
Total 1,157,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 150,000 0 65,000 0
Total 150,000 0 65,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Olympic Facilities Operations 85,000 0
Total 85,000 0

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
Maintenance and Improvements of Existing Facilities
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 60,000,000 80,000,000 20,000,000 46,000,000
Total 60,000,000 80,000,000 20,000,000 46,000,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019