Posted: 10/1/03

Budget cuts could hit hard

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

With looming budget cuts for the Forest Lake school district, every department has to take a good look at itself and find where they can make cuts. The activities department is no different.

The activities department would have to cut back about $150,000 if the proposed referendum is not passed in Nov. Forest Lake activities director Joel Olson submitted a report to the ISD 831 business department outlining where cuts to athletics and clubs would be.

Olson says there would be cuts to coaching positions, club advisors, and supply and transportation budgets would be reduced, and equipment budgets would decrease.

While it's still unclear what coaching positions would be cut, Olsen says they would mostly be on the 9-12 grade teams. ìWe would stay away from the lower junior high teams because we want to keep those teams going,î Olson said. Even if the transportation budget was decreased, the cost of officials and event workers comes into the picture. Olson says the department would have to look into the cost savings for different sports to see if it would be economical to play non-conference games.

The junior high would be hit hardest for if a club was to lose an advisor, it is most likely the club itself which would cease to exist, unless the advisor volunteers their time.

One of the other things affected by the possible budget cut would be a raise in activities fees. Current activities fees range from $60-130. Olsen says he can't see raising them any more than 15-20 percent because then the different teams and clubs would lose too many participants.

If the referendum is passed, there won't be any extra money coming to the activities department. Their budget outlook is simply to maintain what they already have. ìWe're kind of bare bones already,î Olson said. ìSupply budgets were already reduced and we have had to prioritize our facilities over things such as uniforms.î

Olson pointed out that teams will be forced to do fundraising for things they need rather than want if the referendum is voted down.

Thinking about the possibility of cutting coaches or advisors that are meaningful to different school activities, Olsen said the ones who are truly affected are not those whose position is cut, but the kids. The thought of possibly having to take something away from the Forest Lake kids doesnít make Olson happy, and he certainly said he hopes he doesnít have to.

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