Education

OPINION 47-99 December 12, 1947 (OPINION) EDUCATION RE: Board of Education May not Spend District Funds for Publicity Purposes This office is in receipt of your letter of December 10, and contents of same have been noted. You state that the Board of Education expects to construct a new building and remodel one building. In order to provide funds for this project, it will be necessary to call an election to vote on a bond issue. You state further than in order that the voters may know what the Board of Education has in mind, it will be necessary to put on a publicity campaign through newspaper advertising, radio time, etc. The question is whether you may legally expend funds of the school district for such an advertising campaign. I do not believe that the Board would have the right to expend school district funds for advertising purposes. Undoubtedly the newspapers would be glad to give you free space for such matters, being that it is a project in which the entire city is interested. There is no reason why public meetings could not be held, all without expense to the district. But as I have already indicated, it is my opinion that the Board of Education would not be legally authorized to disburse public funds of the district for an advertising campaign such as you have referred to in your letter. NELS G. JOHNSON Attorney General