WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderLawmakers Warming Up to Ads on School Buses

Both the Florida House and Senate have passed this year's budget and in it they both approved to give more than $1 billion dollars back to education, per the Governor's request. But even with that, Bay District Schools will still have a shortfall and they are supporting two bills that will help bring some of that lost money back. 

Buses could soon become big, yellow, rolling billboards. Two bills quickly moving through the legislature, HB 19 and SB 344, could give districts the option to place advertisements on school buses. 

"I think that people in Tallahassee are listening to folks that represent school districts across the state that are saying, ‘Give us an opportunity to raise additional funds, to find alternative revenue sources,' and the advertising on these buses is just that," said Bay District School Board Member Steve Moss.  

With 137 buses in the county fleet, Moss says it could bring up to $200,000 dollars back to Bay County Schools. 

"We don't want to raise taxes, we don't want to raise the milliage rate and if you don't want to create revenue that way, you have to find other ways to generate revenue and this advertising might be a way to do that," Moss added.  

There will be restrictions on both size and content. Proposed legislation would ban ads for alcohol, tobacco, political campaigns and sexual or "mature" content. 

Opponents say the last thing kids need is to be subjected to commercialized advertising but Moss says it's just an extension of what you already see at most school athletic events. 

"Some essences we are already subjecting our students to some advertising especially in the athletic fields through any of our gyms in the district or even in our football fields," Moss added.  

But parents have differing opinions on the idea.  

"It's just a another way of trying to work within the resources they have and if the schools are able to do that and the advertising is appropriate, I don't have a problem with it," said dad John Ascherl. 

"I think it's a great way to raise money for the schools, but at the same time I do think advertising on school buses is somewhat dangerous. I mean if someone is looking at the ads on the school bus then they aren't concerned with the school bus safety and their safety," added mom April Lee. 

"I think it's a great thing especially with the fact that so much money has been taken from the schools," added mom Anne Grabner. 

If passed, the legislation would go into effect on July 1^st; however Moss doesn't think Bay District Schools will look into the option until next year.