Residents urge Cheektowaga not to cut youth and recreation programs as board weighs budget

Dozens of residents and program staff told the Town of Cheektowaga on Nov. 6 that cuts proposed in the town's preliminary 2026 budget would jeopardize youth and recreation services, pool access, lifeguard staffing and certain community donations.

Dave Maguta, speaking for the Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra, said the town had reduced the orchestra's annual support over decades and that the proposed elimination of a $12,150 line would force the 65-year-old group to "shut it down" without municipal help. "We have 70 people that play in the orchestra," Maguta said, warning the group stores roughly $90,000 in instruments and materials at town facilities.

Multiple speakers focused on the youth and recreation department. Doreen Friedrich, a lifelong resident, said rec programs provide lifesaving swim lessons, affordable summer playgrounds and adult water-aerobics that aid mobility. "If they are cut, we will never get them back," she told the board. Lillian Stoll, a part-time Youth & Rec employee and volunteer EMT, said the proposed cuts would "rip these jobs away" and remove safety programs, including year-round swim lessons.

Kathy Giles and Sean Kunkel, who together described more than seven decades of pool experience, urged the board not to close pools or slash the lifeguard line. Giles said the proposed $115,750 reduction in the lifeguard line could close Maryvale Pool and possibly Dinges Pool; she also noted recent capital grants for pool improvements that require pools to be open to receive funding.

Colin Bishop of FeedMore Western New York told the board FeedMore serves 385 Cheektowaga residents and warned that reduced municipal support could cause program delays or force changes to meal quality. Council member Benczkowski later clarified that town-funded Meals on Wheels service would not be stopped, and asked the town attorney to review whether the town's donation model to FeedMore conforms with the state's gift-clause requirements.

Why it matters: residents described Youth & Rec programs as low-cost child care, life-skill instruction and inclusive options for disabled participants; staff said the programs also develop future lifeguards and seasonal employees. Several speakers warned that cutting programs shifts costs to families and may reduce community safety.

Board response and status: council members acknowledged the emotional testimony and said they would review the budget lines and the budget prep report posted online. Members repeatedly noted they were constrained by public-hearing deadlines and the state tax cap; the board tabled preliminary budget resolutions and left the public hearing open to allow more review.

Representative quotes: "Cutting services to children and families, which are at the heart of this community, is disgraceful," read one written submission the clerk entered into the public record. "We provide lessons to not only our youth, but our young adults and senior citizens," Sean Kunkel said, describing swim lesson participation and affordability.

Next step: the board agreed to reconvene and consider edits to the preliminary budget, with the clerk and finance staff tasked with reconciling line-by-line details before final action.