Pine-Richland School District officials are considering a $280,000 cut in funding to student activities and athletics as one way of reducing a $2.5 million deficit in the proposed 2011-12 school budget. The cuts would include $38,500 to partially funded club sports, including ice hockey, high school and middle school boys lacrosse, gymnastics, crew and indoor track.

Dana Siford, director of finance and school services, said club sports fees would increase among participants due to cuts and may vary sport to sport.

A decrease of $10,975 is proposed for the high school's forensics club, as well as a reduction of $7,000 in supplies and equipment for the high school musical program.

Superintendent Mary Bucci said the district would continue to sponsor the programs; however, members would be assessed full participation fees.

The proposed budget also calls for cutting district staff development costs in half by $50,000.

Ms. Bucci said the district was awaiting state legislation proposing a moratorium on faculty development to relieve costs.

The district is also aware of numerous staff retirements and plans not to fill vacancies, Ms. Siford said.

Discontinuing recordings of school board meetings is proposed to save more than $7,000 a year in equipment and personnel, she said. A districtwide decrease of $26,680 is also proposed toward meal and refreshment services for district events.

Other proposed cuts include an estimated $18,000 for the Gateway to the Arts program, $18,000 for Future Business Leaders of America and Technology Student Association competitions, $6,000 for various academic competition fees and $5,000 for English Language Institute membership fees.

Presented at the finance committee meeting April 13, the proposed budget shows a deficit of $2,501,525, with expenditures of $65,454,693 exceeding a total revenue of $62,953,168.

Ms. Siford said proposed reserve funds of $849,720 might be used to tighten the gap to roughly $1.6 million.

Further tax increases beyond the proposed 1.31 mill increase may be used to close the gap. Some district officials are calling for a tax increase to avoid cuts to programming.

Treasurer Dennis Sundo said the cuts in the plan were too deep and that a tax increase would relieve cost reductions.

According to Mr. Sundo, a 4 percent tax increase would be needed to eliminate the deficit without further reducing costs. The maximum tax increase allowed by law is 5.2 percent.

"Cuts will be painful due to trimming leading up to these years," Mr. Sundo said.

School board member Richard Herko said the board should consider public input before approving budget cuts.

"We should start with a zero percent tax increase and reveal budget cuts to the public," said Mr. Herko.

"Let the public decide if the cuts are too significant and should be replaced with a tax increase."