The Bay District School Board is looking for ways to cut spending in tough economic times, and that means some consolidation could be on the way.

Bay District is making plans to contract all their Student Resource Officers through the Bay County Sheriff's office.

The change could save the county money but it will come at a cost to local police departments.

Every government agency is trying to find ways to save money this year, and Bay District hopes that consolidating the school resource officers program will do just that.

Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt said, "Talked to the sheriff's office to see what they could provide for us if they got just exactly what they received from the state and no more. They've come back with an offer, it's going to save us about a half million dollars"

Last year Bay District contracted with Springfield, Panama City, Lynn Haven and Panama City Beach.

Those agencies supplied officers to the high schools and middle schools through the safe school program.

But that has become too expensive.

"We supplemented our safe school program by over 300 thousand dollars, which means that the state gave us x amount of dollars and then we had to give an extra 300 thousand dollars," added Husfelt.

Now the plan is to have the Bay County Sheriff's office supply 18 deputies to the schools.

Husfelt said, "This is a blessing to us to save 500 thousand dollars. It was a deal that we couldn't refuse...we could not afford to pay them and pay the sheriff's office."

Springfield Police Chief Phillip Thorn said, "We've all got to learn to be as efficient with the tax dollars that are given to us, and I understand that he's got a bigger pot to deal with than I do."

The change will force the police departments to find funding for their officers elsewhere.

"It will affect us budgetarily that we'll lose about $15,000 a year income, but it frees up an officer throughout the day in the school zone."

Husfelt feels they can save money and not lose safety on school campuses.

“The best thing about this is we are going to have the same amount of law enforcement presence as we've always had...we're not losing any of that safety," said Husfelt.

All high schools in Bay County will have 2 School Resource Deputies.

While all middle schools, and New Horizons will have 1.

The contract will go before the School Board for a vote on July 8th.