For decades local city, county and state governments have been forced to pay for Public Notices to be published in newspapers. They have been used for information about foreclosures, hearings, advertisements for bids, financial reports, zoning changes and much more. The problem is that very few people actually read a paper version of the news any longer and the tax payers could save money by allowing the notices to be published on digital platforms.

The rule in Alabama which required publishing of public notices in a newspaper may soon end. Legislation by State Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) seeks to end requirements for local governments to advertise or publish notices in a newspaper narrowly passed a House committee.

"This is something that's been obviously coming for a long time," Almond said in an interview. "At the end of the day, it's really just about how do we want to spend our money at the local level. It's giving local governments the option to save money here so that they can spend it on other things that they need to do."

Mayor Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa stated "The city spends on average over $100,000 a year on this type of advertising, so it's very expensive." He added "We live in a modern age now where through websites, social media, the digital community…you can actually post more information in a more transparent way and be more effective." 

"How many people do you know who do not have some sort of smartphone? Some sort of ability to be able to access the internet? If anything this continues the access that the internet has provided and modernizes governments," Maddox said. "I don't think that taxpayers should have to pay for the old way of doing business, especially when there is a vehicle by which you can ensure that the vast majority of people have access to the information that is required in publications."

Caleb Taylor of 1819 News was a contributing author to this article