Peter Graham sings a note that evoked memories of another era of hard times.

But this is only athletics.

Yet, it rings true given the current climate of a country in the midst of a recession that has its fingers on high school athletics.

"Times are tough all over," says Graham, Santa Fe High School's head coach in track and field plus cross country.

Because of that, school districts across the state are bracing themselves for potential budget cuts as the Legislature meets for a special session Oct. 16.

With a state budget shortfall anticipated to fall between $450-675 million, school districts faced the possibility of cuts of as much as 10 percent from their annual budgets — effective immediately — as some lawmakers suggest that all state agencies will be affected.

Thursday provided some hope that the picture might not be as bleak — for this fiscal year, at least.

House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, informed the Santa Fe Public Schools board during a study session to prepare for cuts between 3 and 3 1/2 percent to
the 2009-10 budget.

With Santa Fe Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez also pushing the Legislature to expand the use of capital outlay and improvement bills, Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 33, which would help SFPS absorb whatever additional deficit it would take, the school district could avoid making cuts to programs.

Before Luján made his announcement, Gutierrez said high school and middle school athletics would be cut if the school district had to take a 10 percent cut that some lawmakers speculated.

Gutierrez cautioned that it is a short-term solution to a funding problem the state continues to ignore.

"If that's the case, our athletics are OK for this year," Gutierrez said. "I think depending on this year and the following year, we would have to revisit it."

The one high school coach in the study session audience, Santa Fe High head baseball coach John Morrison, echoed those sentiments.

However, he also is growing frustrated with what he said was propaganda being used to instill fear.

"It's a typical, popular scare tactic," Morrison said. "They scare the hell out of everybody with 10 percent, then they come with 3 1/2 percent. They need to find a way to raise some money."

This latest round of fear-mongering comes on the heels of very real budget cuts SFPS made in May, which eliminated the athletic manager positions at Capital and Santa Fe High and reduced coaching stipends as it faced a $4.5 million deficit with the current budget.

Prior to Thursday's news, rumors circulated at both high schools and all the middle schools about likely scenarios.

Coaches suspect middle school athletics, saved from being cut in May, were on the chopping block again.

They also surmised expenses for travel, meal money, equipment, field and court maintenance also could be examined.

Rumors also persisted that non-revenue generating sports would be eliminated. Morrison heard one suggestion was to consolidate Capital and Santa Fe High into one school.

Morrison is still not sure what the immediate future holds for his program. He is not sure if the Demons will go to the Clovis Invitational, which they have done for the past three seasons. He also heard from Belen High School that it will not travel to Santa Fe for a return game.

All the speculation has Morrison antsy to see something proactive from the Legislature or the school district.

"What they've done is one solution, but I feel its still going to result in an impact on athletics," Morrison said. "This certainly is not a long-term solution, and I'm not sure if they are looking for a long-term solution."