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Hillsborough Prepares For Budget Cuts

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: March 21, 2009

It may not be a matter of if, but when high school athletics in Hillsborough County will feel the effects of the country's economic crisis.

In anticipation of mandatory cutbacks, the Hillsborough County School District, which could be facing a $223 million deficit pending state and federal funding, is considering many proposals to slash its athletic budget.

Those cuts could result in shorter schedules and doubleheaders where girls and boys varsity sports play at the same site on the same day to save on travel costs.

Hillsborough County Public Schools athletic director Lanness Robinson also wouldn't rule out making athletes pay fees to play sports. The Pasco County school district requires athletes to pay a participation fee, $60 for the first sport and $40 for the second. There is no fee for any additional sports.

During the 2006-07 school year, Pasco County received $367,644.50 in participation fees from the county's 22 high schools and middle schools to use for the county's athletic insurance policy.

"We are a part of the budget cuts, too," Robinson said. "We are not exempt from budget cuts. We are only in the process of preparing. Nothing is final."
Hillsborough schools spokesperson Stephen Hegarty said the state gives money to the county on a quarterly basis, and current budget cuts are to affect the 2009-2010 school year.

The county has already announced a proposal to issue unpaid furlough days to school employees, a move Hegarty said could cut an estimated $11 million.

"Our first priority is to the classroom and then limiting layoffs," Hegarty said. "We're the county's biggest employer."

Although athletics was not one of the initial departments the county was investigating to make immediate cutbacks, Hegarty said "everything is subject to review."

"High school athletics is the greatest bargain in young adult day care in the history of mankind," Hillsborough High football coach Earl Garcia said, "so they should try not to cut it out. They should find a way for alternative funding - pay to play, do anything - don't cut them out. It's a tough job for them to balance the budget.

"The school board and superintendent are in an unenviable job. They have some hard cuts to make and I'll support them in whatever decisions they make."

Plant High boys varsity basketball coach Mike Phillips welcomes the proposal that girls and boys teams play doubleheaders at home gyms, with girls games beginning at 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys games.

"I'm fine with that," Phillips said. "We can put twice as many people in the stands."

Sickles varsity swim coach Scott Parlett said some swim teams save money by transporting themselves to most meets and added swimmers also pay for their own swimsuits and have worked out a deal with the county to get reduced pool rentals.

"The so-called country club sports - swimming, golf and tennis - are always threatened," Parlett said. "Our season is not that long to begin with and if they do cut the season, that's where it will hurt swimming. It won't affect the club swimmers, but it will affect the child that is only swimming for their high school and then is limited by a small number of meets."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851. Reporters Katherine Smith and Bill Ward contributed to this report.

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