Man's best friend may soon join him in the unemployment line. The Bay County School Board is slashing its budget, and this may mean a drug dog has made his last rounds on our local campuses. The costs are being compared to the benefits.

Bay District Schools spend almost $20,000 each year to pay for a drug dog and two handlers. The cost basically pays the handlers’ paychecks because the veterinary bills are donated.

The dog goes around to schools on a daily basis to sniff for drugs in cars and lockers on school campuses. It could also be used in a specific incident where drugs are suspected.

Some people think that in the current budget situation this is a luxury, not a necessity.

Pat Sabiston, a school board member, said, "With the budget season there are needs and there are wants. I want a drug dog, but it's $20,000. We have to cut somewhere, and to me that's a logical place. If we're cutting a classroom, that is the Junior Museum, and they're only wanting $16,000. The drug dog is $20,000. To me it makes sense to make more fiscally responsible decisions."

The cost to keep the dog doesn't seem like much when compared to the total costs that have to be cut. $20,000 would only be a drop in the bucket of the $16.4 million that the district will lose next year, but Sabiston feels like you have to start somewhere, and why not with a program she feels isn't worth the money.

"We have expulsions, usually twice a month. I have never had an expulsion come across our desk where the drug dog brought the expulsion to us."

Whether or not man's best friend will have a job next year will be determined along with everything else in the budget workshops.

The school board will hold another budget workshop tonight at 5:30 at the school board meeting room.