DENVER -- A marketing campaign around the exterior of the Capitol dome could pay for millions of dollars in renovations that lawmakers say the dome desperately needs.

Rep. Buffie McFadyen said she would support a “tasteful” marketing campaign to raise at least $13 million to pay for a dome restoration.

“The Capitol dome has been neglected for many years and it's time to fix it,” said McFadyen.

The marketing campaign was proposed to the Capitol Development Committee by Colorado Preservation, Inc. Thursday. Lawmakers agreed to draft legislation giving the idea the green light.

But don’t expect to start seeing gaudy billboards on the dome. McFadyen said preservationists are considering a subtle campaign, possibly projecting historic images of Colorado onto scaffolding surrounding the dome during the renovation. The slideshow would be sponsored by a company. McFadyen also said companies might use the image of the Capitol on soft drink bottles promoting the campaign.

“Those advertisements certainly would be temporary, especially if they were on the outside of the building,” she said.

Still some residents worry the idea would cheapen a Colorado icon.

“Tacky and obnoxious,” said Andy Mason, a Denver resident who opposes any advertising, no matter how subtle. Mason said the advertising would be merely another sign of how entrenched corporate culture has become in Colorado politics. “If they sold advertising, at least it would be an accurate representation of what's going on inside the building,” he said.

Others argued that ads are an innovative solution to a budget crunch that has left no room in the state budget for a renovation.

“If it helps meet the needs to repair the dome, then I have no problem with that,” said Denver resident Kaiser Tanaka.

McFadyen said this kind of marketing campaign is not a new concept. She said renovations to both the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument were partially funded by corporations through sponsorships and some advertisements.