NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The NBA will start its 2009-10 season without its regular referees after a breakdown this week in contract talks, the New York Times reported.

The impasse will cause a lockout because the referees' union refused to concede to the league's demands for significant cutbacks to the their budget.

In its recent proposal, National Basketball Referees Association offered to cut more than $2.5 million from last season's budget, including 15 percent in travel costs and a 7 percent per diem.

The newspaper added the referees agreed to freeze their salaries next season, a 10 percent salary savings for the league.

"We understand that everyone in the country is facing tough times," association spokesman Lamell McMorris told the newspaper, (but) we have attempted to negotiate in good faith."