ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Proposed cuts to the St. Lucie County School District athletic budget have coaches and athletes alarmed.

The proposed $1 million decrease in the county athletic budget for next year announced Thursday means coaches will be working with less funding.

But what is even more alarming to coaches, is the elimination of feeder programs, which help develop players before they hit the varsity level.

Next year, junior varsity programs would be suspended under the current proposal — unless they are funded internally.

Middle school teams were eliminated this year and intramural programs are scheduled to be cut next year, too.

“Just from the standpoint of experience and going through the system, that’s a direct effect on the production and development of players,” Fort Pierce Westwood boys basketball coach Jason Wiggins said of the elimination of junior varsity teams.

Treasure Coast football coach Bill Kelley and Port St. Lucie baseball coach Tony Malizia said their programs cannot survive without junior varsity programs, so they will do whatever it takes to keep them.

“It will take quite a bit of money, whether we have to have Saturday doubleheaders to save money on travel, or what, but we will do whatever it takes,” Malizia said.

“We will have a JV team next year.”

Kelley said he’s been told it will take about $2,500 to cover costs of buses, security and officials for a limited JV football game schedule.

St. Lucie County head coaches might not have much help in the future either, unless their assistants are willing to volunteer their time.

Overall, 202 coaching supplements are proposed to be cut, leaving an average of 22 coaching supplements per school, of which 16 to 18 would go to head coaches.

“Of course that’s a concern, but the district made that clear the proposal was with the safety of the student in mind, so you won’t see one coach responsible for 100 kids,” said Kelley, who was informed he likely would have three paid assistants.

The cuts also affect athletes, as they will be required to pay a fee of $40 to $100 to play next year.

Fort Pierce Central junior girls basketball player Brittni Montgomery said the cost to play had students talking on Friday. She still plans to play next year, but said the cost is a concern for others.

“I am just hoping everyone from our team will be able to raise the money to come back and be able to play,” said Montgomery, whose team reached the regional final last month. “It’s a difficult thing, but we are just going to have to deal with it.”

Despite the negative effects of budget cuts, Malizia and Kelley said it isn’t enough to keep them from wanting to coach.

“It’s a lot of work — one (coaching) supplement, no budget, a ton of fund-raising, possibly losing JV,” Malizia said. “But you know what you are getting into when you get into coaching.”

Kelley said, “If you are in it to develop young men and young women, it’s worth it. This is not a normal job.”

PROPOSED REDUCTION SUMMARY

•High school coaching supplements suspended: 202

•High school coaching supplements remaining: 132

•Reduction to county athletic operations: 58 percent

•High school dollar amount reduced: $1 million

•High school dollar amount remaining: $732,396

•Middle school dollar amount reduced: $75,000

By Laurel Pfahler, TCPalm.com