Belton hopes the move brings the same kind of impact it has to Temple and Killeen.
Lobbyists for Temple have helped bring in more $130,000 for downtown redevelopment and helped provide funding for the Bioscience District and improvements on U.S. 317, said Shannon Gowan, spokeswoman for the city.
Killeen has had similar results. Since 2006, more than $2.5 million in funding from grants and earmarks has flowed into the city.
And city leaders say the benefits go beyond funding.
“The results of federal lobbying efforts far surpass the money invested in lobbying services,” said Killeen City Manager Connie Green. “Benefits have been realized in both federal policy changes and federal funding.”
Killeen has been working with its lobby group – Austin, Copelin & Reyes – for the past five years. It pays about $100,000 a year for the service.
Each year Killeen’s council works to pass a federal legislative agenda and its lobbyists then work toward meeting those goals.
Belton already has some ideas about where it would like its firm, Russ Reid Co., to prioritize its efforts, but representatives from the lobbying firm are expected to assist the city in drawing up its legislative agenda.
Belton’s wish list will likely include money for the Lake-to-Lake Road Project, which would connect the Farm-to-Market roads that border Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow Lake, and the Ninth Avenue Bridge Project, which would connect Loop 121 and U.S. 317. Sewage infrastructure is another area that City Manager Sam Listi mentioned is a priority for city staff.
Belton will pay Russ Reid Co. $120,000 annually, plus up to $4,800 in additional expenses. The city expects its commitment to be at least two years. If the firm does not produce results during that time it has agreed to work for expenses to try to achieve Belton’s priorities, according to city documents.
“I realize this is a significant amount of money, with no guarantee of return,” Listi wrote in a letter to the city council. “Yet, given Russ Reid’s track record, I consider this a prudent investment in Belton’s future.”
Mrs. Gowan and Killeen spokeswoman Hilary Shine both said their city contracts with lobbyists do not pay for expenses.
Temple has lobbyists working at both the state and federal levels. Mrs. Gowan said Temple has a yearly contract with Bill Messer of the Texas Lobby Group for $65,000. In addition, the city pays Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide $75,000 a year to lobby on Capitol Hill.
