Students Want Mascots On License Plates Proceeds Would Be Used For Scholarship Funds

Pearl Harbor survivors, bluebirds, classic cars and majestic pines share little in common except that they all appear on Idaho’s specialty license plates.

Now, higher education backers want to add Broncos, Bengals and Vandals to the list with a program that would raise scholarship money for Idaho universities and colleges.

The idea is already practiced in most states and has been discussed in Idaho for several years.

Now, a renewed effort driven by students, alumni support and Republican Rep. Paul Kjellander could bring passage.

The license plates would be designed by each school featuring their mascot or symbol and the proceeds would go into alumni association scholarship funds.

Florida has the most successful license plate program, with sales bringing in more than $2 million annually.

Montana universities take in about $30,000 each annually.

Kjellander, a broadcasting technology instructor at Boise State, wants more people to get a college education.

“It’s a bill we’ve been looking at for a while. I’d like to get it out of the drawer and on to the floor (of the Legislature) as soon as possible. It works in 45 other states,” he said, “Why can’t it work here?”

Some people think there are too many specialty plates in the state - a total of 30.

And others believe the cost is too high to make them a viable source of revenue for higher education.

The state charges a one-time $25 fee and $15 annually per plate set for specialty plates. Kjellander said that would make the collegiate plates even more expensive and limit the flow of cash to schools.

Transportation spokesman Jeff Stratten said they were not aware of the college plate initiative but that the plates would cost $25.

Kjellander would like to see Transportation wave the $25 fee and charge only the actual production costs on each set.