More so than at any time in recent memory, school budgets are being scrutinized by boards of eductaion, administrators and citizens. New York State government's alarming budget problems, the fruit of decades of reckless spending by the leadership of both major political parties, has led to pressure on school districts to preserve revenue and cut expenses to a degree not seen in many years.

   The list that follows is not comprehensive, but hopefully is representative of what is taking place across New York. We are gathering as mush information as we can find on sports-related cuts that are either being contemplated or have already been approved for presentation to voters.

   Feel free to use the e-mail link at the bottom of the page to alert me additional media reports on the subject.

Afton (Section 4)    The proposed $14.4 million budget raises the tax levy by 2.87 percent.    One teaching position and three other positions will be cut.    The swim team will be dropped.    Source: Press & Sun-Bulletin, May 8.

Auburn (Section 3)    Budget would cut 13 teaching and administrative positions.    Eliminates nine modified sports teams.    Source: The Post-Standard, March 18.

Bainbridge-Guilford (Section 4)    The proposed budget is $16.77 million, with an increase in the tax levy of 2.9 percent. The budget is down 2.2 from a year ago.    There are 7.5 positions being cut, including six teachers.    Modified wrestling is being dropped.    Source: Press & Sun-Bulletin, May 8.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo (Section 2)    Proposed $19.73 million budget    Eliminates 19 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, 14 of which are teaching.    Eliminates all JV sports except basketbll and cheerleading for an expected savings of $36,000.    Source: Albany Times Union, March 30.

Brocton (Section 6)    The school board voted 5-2 on April 15 to move forward with a $14.41 million budget plan that district residents will vote on May 18. District business executive Betty DeLand said the proposal requires a tax increase of 14-14.5 percent.    A day earlier, he board restored math, science and four elementary teachers and a social worker to the budget. Also restored: four class advisers and the adviser positions for the school newspaper and yearbook and the musical director and assistant director's position. Eighteen jobs are being eliminated in the new budget.    Board members Tom DeJoe cast one of the no votes, saying he preferred to save varsity football and cut boys soccer. A proposal to cut the whole $99,196 sports budget was rejected 6-1    Source: The Observer, April 17.

Cambridge (Section 2)    Cambridge will restore boys and lacrosse to the roster of offerings. They were among four sports that were chopped last year but remained functional courtesy of community fund-raising efforts.    Source: The Post-Star, May 2.

Canandaigua (Section 5)    Canandaigua district residents will consider a $62 million budget that would eliminate 37 jobs but still increase the tax rate by about 6 percent.    The job cuts include about 16 full-time teachers even after employee unions provided about $500,000 in concessions.    The freshman programs in football, cheerleading, basketball and the modified baseball team are slated to be dropped under the plan.    Source: Democrat and Chronicle, April 16.

Chenango Valley (Section 4)    The proposed budget of $31.89 million increases the tax levy by 3.89 percent.    There are 4.5 teaching positions among the 7.5 positions slated to be cut.    Boys and girls modified basketball teams will be combined into one per sex, cutting the total number of teams from four to two.    Source: Press & Sun-Bulletin, May 8.

Churchville-Chili (Section 5)    $71.53 million budget, awaiting board vote April 13, public vote May 18.    Eliminates 25 positions.    Eliminates the girls gymnastics team.    Source: Gates-Chili Post, April 2.

Cicero-North Syracuse (Section 3)    Proposal calls foe 124.5 jobs to be cut.    Eliminates all freshman sports except football and girls volleyball.    Source: The Post-Standard, March 18.

Corning-Painted Post (Section 4)     Closes two schools, eliminates 87 teachers, enacts many of the so-called "Alternative C" steps that voters previously rejected as part of a long-term plan.     Combines the Corning East and Corning West sports programs.    Source: Corning Leader, April 3.

Cornwall (Section 9)    A $57.39 million budget plan would raise the tax levy by 4.47 percent and increase the budget by 4.15 percent.    Cuts 10 kindergarten teaching assistants, six teachers, three library assistants, three teaching assistants.    $100,000 cut in clubs and extracurricular activities translates to a 50 percent reduction in sports.    Source: Times Herald-Record, April 9.

Galway (Section 2)    The proposed $17.7 million budget includes a 3 percent tax increase. A public hearing is slated for May 5.    The plans cuts 1.4 teaching positions and a cleaning and clerical position.    Boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, baseball and softball programs will lose their JV teams in order to trim $45,000.    Source: Schenectady Gazette, April 22

Garden City (Section 8)    Recommended budget of $98.28 million, which is up 3.21 percent over a year ago and raises the tax levy by 4.52 percent.    Eliminates 10.8 FTEs.    Eliminates JV "B" teams.    Source: Garden City Life, April 2.

Gates Chili (Section 5)    $84.075 million budget (4 percent increase to the tax levy) was OK'd by the school board April 13, with a public hearing scheduled for May 4 and public vote May 18. Tax rates would increase by 2.07 percent.    Eliminates about 35 instructional and 12 other positions.    The field hockey program, which was de-funded in the initial proposal, was restored on April 13.    Source: Democrat and Chronicle, March 28 and the Gates-CHili Post, April 16.

Glens Falls (Section 2)    The school board met April 29 and adopted a $38.2 million budget (tax levy up by 5 percent) that reflects a $600,000 reduction in spending from the current year.    Approximately 22 positions could be trimmed.    The first draft of the budget cut alpine skiing, golf and volleyball. They were restored at the April 29 meeting.    Source: The Post-Star, April 20 and April 29.

Goshen (Section 9)    A $61.6 million budget is projected to be 3.27 percent above this year's plan.    Cuts approximately 15 coordinators, 10 teaching aides, 12.3 FTE staff/faculty.    Cuts two coaches and the modified sports program.    Source: Times Herald-Record, April 9.

Great Neck (Section 8)    Anticipated budget of $185.55 million, which is up 2.16 percent from last year.    Saves $135,000 by cutting 23 varsity, JV, or middle school coaching positions.    Source: Great Neck Record, April 2.

Hannibal (Section 3)    In an April 15 meeting, the school board rejected proposed $25.43 million budget (tax levy increase of 2.58 percent) for 2010-11 by a 4-3 vote and will try again on April 21.    The provision cutting school sports had been removed from the budget voted upon April 15, but the idea of saving $262,873 by cutting all levels of the program remains on the table as an option to plug a gap of approximately $151,000.    It's possible that some sports will be cut before the April 21 vote.    Source: The Post-Standard, March 18 and April 15.

Hadley-Luzerne (Section 2)    Hadley-Luzerne AD Jack Conway said track and field was eliminated, partly because of low participation, and assistant coaching jobs in some modified teams were cut.    Source: The Post-Star, May 2.

Honeoye Falls-Lima (Section 5)     Proposed $40.7 million budget (2.94 percent increase to the tax levy) is unchanged from a year ago.    Eliminates 12 paraprofessionals and eight teachers as part of a reduction of 27 jobs.    Eliminates boys and girls freshman soccer and basketball.    Source: Democrat and Chronicle, April 1.

Levittown (Section 8)    Board has adopted a $193.5 million budget proposal (3.81 percent increase in tax levy), which will go to voters May 18.    District is adding a swim team at a cost of $45,000, which may require cuts in midified sports teams.    Source: Levittown Tribune, April 2.

Mohawk (Section 3)    Board tabled voting on a $14.5 budget on April 12 in order to gather more information after receiving news about a New York State Assembly vote that could affect retirement plans. Last year, Mohawk operated on an austerity budget after the original spending plan was voted down.    The in-progress budget plan cuts nine positions.    Bowling team could be cut.    Source, Herkimer Telegram, April 13.

Mount Vernon (Section 1)     Antacipated $211.6 million budget (tax levy to increase by 14 to 15.1 percent), which increases spening by $8.4 million over last year. School board enacted a 3 percent utility tax to spread some of the existing burden from home owners to renters and businesses.    Eliminates at least 62 jobs.    Eliminates middle-school sports.    Board votes on April 21, voters approve or reject on May 18.    Source: The Journal News, March 30

Norwich (Section 4)    The 37.1 million budget is down 2.07 percent from last year but raises the tax levy by 3 percent.    Fifteen teaching jobs and seven other positions will be cut.    Extracurriculars, inclusing sports, will be dropped.    Source: Press & Sun-Bulletin, May 8.

Oneida (Section 3)    Board is expected to vote on its proposed plan April 13.    Cuts anticipated for some modified and middle school sports; exploring reductions in the non-league schedule, scrimmages and travel.    Source: Oneida Daily Dispatch, April 11.

Oneonta (Section 4)    The board is considering a $33.7 million spending plan (2.99 percent tax levy increase) that cuts 14 teaching positions and eliminates other positions as well.    Some modified sports teams would be merged, and freshman basketball plus modified and boys varsity swimming would be cut. The pool, currently in need of repairs, would be closed.    Source: The Daily Star, April 14.

Pine Bush (Section 9)    A 98.31 million budget is down 2.59 percent from this year but increases the tax levy 3.99 percent.    Cuts 33 teaching and 35 other positions across the district.    Cuts modified sports and about one-third of extracurricular actiities.    Source: Times Herald-Record, April 9.

Plattsburgh (Section 7)     Board approved sending a $37.52 million proposal to voters, who would face a 2.45 percent jump in the tax levy.     Eliminates 13.25 positions, terminates summer school program. Additional measures could eliminate six more positions.     Sports cuts under consideration as part of a $50,000 reduction are the elimination of girls gymnastics and modified "B" basketball and cheerleading; reduction in the number of assistant coaches and games played at the JV/modified levels.    Source: The Press-Republican, April 4 and April 10.

Potsdam (Section 10)    Proposed $26.24 million budget is down from $26.78 million from a year ago but raises the tax levy by 3 percent.    Eliminates 9.85 FTE teaching jobs and 10.25 FTE other positions.    Cuts $44,390 from athletics and extracurricular activities, including scrapping a proposed girls hockey assistant coach and two modified-sports coaches. Also eliminates girls modified lacrosse.     Source: Watertown Daily Times, March 18.

Royalton-Hartland (Section 6)    Roy-Hart will drop varsity football and its modified sports, AD John Jablonski said.    Source: The Buffalo News, April 27.

Troy (Section 2)     The school board met April 13 and backed away from a proposal to eliminate interscholastic sports and other extracurricular activities while it studies how to close a $2.4 million gap in its proposed $94.2 million budget.    Sports boosters mobilized quickly a day after an initial budget proposal made by Superintendent Fadhilika Atiba-Weza proposed cutting all programs except student council and the yearbook.    Source: Times Union, April 13.

Union Springs (Section 4)    School board met April 11 and approved a budget of $17,316,800, 2.61 percent less than the current budget. A tax levy increase of 0.89 percent is projected.    Eliminates at least five full-time positions and cuts the hours for a number of other positions.    Southern Cayuga has originally decided it could no longer participate in a merged sports program with Union Springs, which said it would still be able to maintain most existing sports -- with swimming and cross country at the greatest risk based on participation. Southern Cayuga subsequently approved maintaining sports funding, though specifics of the combined offerings with Union Springs will have to be worked out.    Girls and boys golf will be coached by one person; previously separate seventh- and eighth-grade basketball and volleyball teams will be merged into single units; basketball cheerleading will be cut; and three assistant coaching positions will be dropped.    Source: Auburn Citizen, April 12 and April 26.

Utica (Section 3)    Proposed $132.62 million budget, raises taxes by 1.98 percent. The budget is scheduled to be adopted by the board April 13 and the public vote is May 18.    Eliminates 12 teachers, three administrators.    Eliminates non-league games from sports schedules.    Source: Observer-Dispatch, March 30.

Wallkill (Section 9)    The $64.16 million budget is 1.82 percent above this year's plan and raises the tax levy by 7.84 percent.    Staff cuts: Five teaching positions through non-attrition; three non-instructional through attrition.    Cuts the nordic ski team.    Source: Times Herald-Record, April 9.

Warrensburg (Section 2)    Warrensburg original cut cheerleading, volleyball and boys soccer but decided to reinstate the sports using reserve funds.    The Post-Star, May 2.

Yonkers (Section 1)    The combined city and schools budget of $889.3 million -- about 1 percent under this year's figure -- may mean an extra $295 in property taxes for the average homeowner, and layoffs for 177 municipal workers and 229 public school teachers. The proposed tax levy increase is 4 percent.    The budget will be debated by the city council, which is required to adopt a plan by June 1.    The school portion of the budget cuts all sports programs.    Source: The Journal News, April 15.