Candia officials say it could be the end of the road for the decades-old summer recreation program after rising fuel costs and a lean budget year made selectmen give the program the axe.

Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley said the program, which had been budgeted at about $20,000, was not included in the final run-through of the budget approved by voters in March.

He said the cut was prompted in part by rising gasoline costs, and at the time, officials were budgeting for fuel with an expected price of about $3 per gallon.

Kelley pointed out that since then, fuel costs have risen even higher. As of June 21, most regular fuel in the Candia area was selling for close to $4 a gallon, while diesel approached $4.70. Kelley said there is no guarantee the program will be re-slated for next year due to the unpredictability of the current market.

“It’s hard to say, and with the economy the way it is, we don’t really know,” he said. “The price of a lot of things has gone out of sight, and no one in Candia has a lot of extra money.”

Former selectman James Brennan, who resigned from the board earlier this year due to a move to Manchester, said the loss of the program could mean a summer of little to do for the dozens of children who had been looking forward to the program.

Brennan said he attended the program himself at age 6, working his way up to a paid counselor position when he was in his teens and later becoming director.

Brennan said the program typically had around 75 children enrolled, but it peaked at about 120 during his years as director. The six-week program, which specialized in team games such as rounders, flag football and capture the flag, was expected to cost $275 this year, he said.

After signs became clear that the program was not going to continue this year, Brennan said he hoped to organize a similar program through the nearby Candia Youth Athletic Association. But he said this option never panned out because of concern over insurance and liability. “I tried my hardest to get the Candia Youth Athletic Association to pick up the ball, but I can’t blame them for not wanting to,” he said. “They were afraid of unseen liability and didn’t want to get sued ... so I can’t be upset with them.”

Ultimately, he said it will probably be up to voters to decide if the program returns or not.

“When the correct budget was not voted in, things had to be cut,” he said. “I can’t say if it will be back next year, but if it is I guarantee it will be like starting all over again.”