Cary residents who’ve been pushing for more police protection may take issue with what the town council considers a spending priority. And it won’t be the first time. The Cary News reports the town has contracts with two lobbyists whose job is try to get public money from state and federal taxpayers. A few weeks ago, a Cary resident called out the town council for spending more than $200,000 to defend its indefensible sign ordinance.
To help push its agenda, Cary spends nearly $200,000 for lobbying muscle at the federal and state level.
In Washington, Cary’s lobbyist is Melissa Avstreih with the Ferguson Group, a firm that made more than $12 million in reported fees to represent dozens of municipalities and businesses before Congress.
The town pays her $98,000 for a one-year contract.
In North Carolina, Cary hired Jack Cozort to lobby the legislature.
He is paid $6,000 a month with his total fees hitting $72,000 last year.
