From the top of the standings to the bottom, Western Athletic Conference members are feeling the knife in budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year.

"Everyone has been asked, in some shape or form, to trim costs or get by with less," said Karl Benson, WAC commissioner.

While the University of Hawai'i is leaving six positions unfilled and cutting costs aimed at seven figure savings for the upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year, so too are their WAC rivals.

Boise State announced it is making $750,000 in budget cuts, laying off three athletic department (non-coaching) employees and not filling two current vacancies.

A University of Idaho spokeswoman said there are plans to cut $500,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Louisiana Tech is pledged to trim $258,262. Other schools said cuts are on the way but said numbers were not yet available.

UH and Boise State, both budgeted for approximately $29.5 million for the last fiscal year, have had the largest budgets in the nine-team conference. UH is expected to come in at approximately $28.4 million for the current fiscal year that ends June 30, but might still have a $2 million-$3 million deficit, according to officials.

While Boise State is taking a six percent hit in the approximately $2.8 million it receives in state general fund subsidies, UH, which gets about $1.5 million in state general fund assistance, is making its cuts in self-generated department funds.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan said UH hopes to save $475,000-$495,000 in salaries and benefits next year from leaving six positions unfilled. Some of the positions have been left vacant since November. Donovan said they are positions that do "not directly affect our athletes." For example, trainer positions have been filled.

Meanwhile, Benson said the WAC Office has pledged to trim $200,000 or what is believed to be approximately 20 percent of its operating budget, from expenses.

In addition the WAC Board of Directors this month will consider a series of cost-saving proposals, including reducing the number of teams participating in championship tournaments.