UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. - Talk of cutting the youth sports program in University Place has parents fired up.
Monday night, they flooded city hall, angry that their children may not have a place to play ball.
There were accusations that talk of cutting the sports program isn't just about balancing the budget, it's politically motivated.
University Place parents came to fight for their kids. They made an impassioned plea in front of the city council to save youth sports from the chopping block.
The controversy started after Mayor Linda Bird launched a Web site over the weekend claiming the Parks & Recreation Department will be hardest hit by budget cuts, and urged everyone to show up at Monday night's city council meeting to speak out.
But on the eve of the elections, there were accusations of wasteful spending and misguided priorities.
The city manager tried to reassure the crowd, saying while the city faces a $4 million budget shortfall, cutting or eliminating the youth sports program is just one option.
City council members recently voted to give themselves a raise. The mayor is hoping Monday night's testimony will sway council members to rescind that vote and cut their own salaries for the sake of the kids.
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