Sandy tops in lobbyist spending

A report from the Utah Taxpayers Association, a lobbying group that favors government efficiency, shows that Sandy and Salt Lake County top the list of big spenders on lobbying Utah lawmakers.

The two governments hired outside lobbyists for the Legislature, seeking money for local projects and access.

Sandy also has paid $180,000 this year for federal lobbyists who tug on the ears of Congress members for city projects, according to the Taxpayers Association report.

Sandy Deputy Mayor John Hiskey said the city spent $170,000 on lobbyists for the 2005 Legislature and used the lobbyists' influence to gain millions of dollars for Sandy-specific projects.

Hiskey noted the parking structure for the South Towne Exposition Center — the Legislature agreed to allow Salt Lake County to collect special taxes that would raise money for that $20 million parking structure. Sandy officials then used the garage as a selling point to lure professional soccer team Real Salt Lake to their city with the promise of sharing the garage between the soccer stadium and the Expo Center.

The Utah Taxpayers Association said cities with full-time mayors already are paying those people to lobby for the city.

"I think our goal is to have them spend $0 on lobbyists because that's the mayor's job," said Andrew Stephenson, the research analyst who prepared the association's report. "To pay lobbyists when you have a full-time mayor doesn't make much sense."

Sandy, for example, employs full-time Mayor Tom Dolan, full-time Deputy Mayor Hiskey, a full-time city administrator and a full-time assistant city administrator. Additionally, the city pays around $47,000 in fees to the Utah League of Cities and Towns, a lobbying group specifically for Utah's municipalities.

Sandy has used the money lobbyists glean primarily to pay for road projects, from the reconstruction of State Street between 10600 and 9400 South to upgrading I-15 interchanges within the city's boundaries. Sandy also has used money secured by lobbyists to pay for storm drain upgrades, an urban fishery and protection for a historic neighborhood.

"Our people are state taxpayers. They are county taxpayers and they are federal taxpayers," Hiskey said. "If there is an ability through the state, county or the feds to properly support projects in the city, then I think it is appropriate that we advocate properly for those.