State-by-State Exam of Significant Cuts

ALABAMA

No significant cuts. One school system, Walker County, threatened to drop athletics because of the tough economic times but did not after voters increased taxes for schools.

ALASKA

Districts statewide have cut sports budgets but no programs have been eliminated.

ARKANSAS

The Arkansas Activities Association says it has no reporting mechanism for being aware of such cutbacks.

CALIFORNIA

Widespread cuts in Los Angeles, which reduced budget by $940,000 last year and another $145,000 this year, and San Diego, which dropped soccer, swimming, water polo and golf to save $200,000. Tax on tickets to Candlestick Park raised $550,000 for San Francisco.

COLORADO

No significant cuts. When the Fort Collins school district eliminated girls’ gymnastics and baseball last year, parents organized and funded the programs themselves.

CONNECTICUT

No significant cuts. Some freshmen and junior varsity squads reduced and some consolidation at some high schools in sports such as hockey. At least eight high schools are using pay-for-play plans and at least four others are considering them.

IDAHO

No significant cuts except at Bear Lake High School in Montpelier, where boys and girls high school golf and track, boys baseball and girls softball were cut, saving about $13,000 in travel expenses, coaching stipends and other costs. About 150 of the school’s 500 students will be affected next spring. The state also maintains an endowment fund to cover future shortfalls and has about $250,000 in it.

ILLINOIS

Chicago’s 75 public high school principals voted to eliminate all winter sports unless the school board restores $800,000 of $1.5 million in cut by Nov. 1. Private fund raising may come up with the funds by the deadline.

MAINE

Pay-for-play imposed at some schools. Varsity and junior varsity baseball cut by 2,000 students. Travel reduced. The organization of school sports officials has foregone scheduled fee increases two years in a row, saving the schools $106,000 this year.

MARYLAND

No significant cuts. Pay-for-play imposed in two counties. Budget cuts have been absorbed by measures such as doubling up teams on buses.

MASSACHUSETTS

More than 60 percent of the schools have gone to pay-for-play. There has been a significant decrease in junior varsity and freshmen sub-varsity programs, caused by declining enrollments and financial constraints.

MICHIGAN

Pay-for-play adopted by some schools. In Dearborn, residents passed a tax bill last month 12,776-11,138 to generate $5.6 million which will eliminate the fee. In Romeo, residents defeated a $1.2 million tax bill 2,744-2,672, cutting all extra curricular activities at the high school and junior high. The district imposed a 90-day stay to give an ad hoc committee of citizens time to work with school administrators to see if there are more alternatives.

MONTANA

Pay-for-play adopted in some districts. Some high schools have dropped freshman teams or combined them with sophomore teams, reduced coaching staffs, cut travel for sub-varsity teams and eliminated overnight trips.

NEBRASKA

No significant cuts. Any reductions came because of dwindling enrollment. Many schools in smaller towns have co-oped programs, particularly football and basketball, in order to field teams. Some schools in Omaha dropped boys gymnastics because numbers were so small they couldn’t justify the expense.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Some individual sports such as track cut. Coaches have foregone pay increases. Junior varsity teams cut. In Laconia, school board funds were restored this year after athletics went unfunded for two years.

NEW MEXICO

Pay-for-play adopted in some districts. Schedules reduced.

NORTH CAROLINA

No significant cuts. Endowment fund of about $500,00 in place to help with future shortfalls.

TEXAS

No significant cuts. A $10 pay-for-play fee imposed in Dallas last year was dropped because of parental opposition and administrative costs.

UTAH

No significant cutbacks. School districts are beginning to consider them and they may be imposed next year.

VERMONT

No significant cuts although they have often been threatened when budgets are rejected. Usually, budgets are approved when re-submitted.

WISCONSIN

No significant cuts. Board has asked to renegotiate coaches salary supplements and warned if they are not, some sports may be dropped next year.

NOTE: There were no significant cuts in the following states: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.