Boise State is reportedly considering paying a special six-figure fee in addition to travel subsidies in a bid to boost its chances of gaining membership in the Big West Conference.

According to a person who has had talks with the Boise State administration, the Broncos are concerned that travel subsidies alone might not be enough to secure the eight votes necessary for conference membership.

A vote of the 10 members could come within the next two weeks. Boise State is believed to be seeking a determination in advance of June 30 so it can advise the Mountain West of its withdrawal in time for the 2013-14 school year as regulations require.

With the exception of the addition of Hawaii, which joins the conference July 1, the Big West has shown a reluctance to expand beyond the all-California footprint it has held to for the past seven years.

The Broncos, who are currently members of the Mountain West Conference, have announced plans to join the Big East in football and the Western Athletic Conference in most other sports for 2013. But the instability of the WAC has prompted Boise State to make at least two runs at the Big West in the past seven months.

Boise State recently turned down overtures from the MWC, which had sought to keep the Broncos as an all-sports member.

In December, Boise State attempted to piggyback on San Diego State, which is also Big East-bound in football, into the Big West, but was turned away. Since then, SDSU president Elliott Hirshman has campaigned among the Big West Board of Directors on the Broncos’ behalf and Boise State has made a renewed push.

"We have visited with the Big West about the future of our non-football programs and it is in their hands," Boise State spokesman Max Corbet has said in referring questions to the Big West.

Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell has declined comment "… until the issue gets resolved."

When the Big West, which is composed of nine California-based schools, agreed to take on UH for 2012-13 it was on the condition that Hawaii provide travel subsidies of approximately $500,000 per year to cover increased transportation costs.

Travel subsidies were part of Boise State’s early discussions with the Big West.

UH recruiting budget for football bottom of pack

The University of Hawaii’s football recruiting budget for fiscal year 2011 ranked eighth among 11 current or soon-to-be Mountain West Conference members, according to a survey.

According to figures compiled by ESPN.com, UH had a recruiting budget of $132,068 for 2011. That was up from 2010, when UH had a budget of $125,268.

UH officials said both figures do not take into account the "significant" amounts in trade the school annually receives from its airline and hotel partners. "We’d be somewhere in the middle (of the MWC) when those are factored in," athletic director Jim Donovan said.

According to ESPN.com, UH led Boise State ($129,837), Fresno State ($99,629) and Nevada ($80,317).

Air Force ($335,986), Nevada-Las Vegas ($292,618), Utah State ($256,312) and Colorado State ($251,383) set the pace.

UH joins the Mountain West Conference on July 1.