In the Times today: Sims proposes bringing back bus-wrap ads.

Sims now proposes that the council allow partial-wrap ads that would leave a 15-inch band of glass unobstructed. “If that provision is repealed, Metro would like to sell a limited number of partial-wrap buses,” [Sharron] Shinbo said.
She said Metro estimates it would make $275,000 in 2009 and $408,000 in 2010 with 25 partial-wrap buses.
…
Metro’s problems are fueled by a spike in diesel prices and, most important, a sharp reduction in sales-tax revenue. Metro’s two-year, $1.1 billion operating budget is funded mainly by a sales tax of 0.9 percent, or 9 cents per $10 purchase.

Ron Sims, supposed champion of mass transit who is strangely opposed to light rail, is in favor of returning us to the days of the ugly ad-wrapped buses. The original wrapped buses were “full-wraps”, which meant that if you were a passenger, you could not easily see out of the windows. The new proposal is better, if you’re of a certain height, but (incredibly) they’re far uglier.

I agree with Councilman Bob Ferguson’s sentiment: “[Bob Ferguson] added he would support wrapping bus windows when county executives agreed to wrap their office windows.”

Now, let’s do the math real quick on this. According to this article, Metro’s biannual budget is $1.1 billion dollars. The partial-wrap ads being proposed are projected to pull in $275k in 2009. If my calculations are correct, 275,000/1,100,000,000 is 0.025%. Ron Sims’ solution to Metro’s funding woes (brought on by increased diesel prices and reduced sales tax receipts) is to whore off the buses for a measly 0.025%.

While wrapping buses would bring in just a fraction of the money needed to erase the deficit, Shinbo said, anything helps.

“Anything helps” might be true if this matter were not distracting the council from real solutions that have at least single-digit impacts on the budget. The time, energy, and money spent studying, debating, and voting on this matter is appalling. I am disappointed that Ron Sims continues to push this as a solution.