TOLEDO, OHIO -- The Toledo City Council is considering hiring a lobbyist to represent Toledo at the state level by being a constant presence in Columbus.
Toledo's Director of Finance says spending $60 thousand a year over the next three years would be a small investment for a large return.
Some argue that to be a lobbyist for the area is the job of elected representatives but proponents say representatives have much more on their plates.
"They can't be all places at all times and represent everybody. They represent the city but they also represent other interest groups, other organizations. In some cases they represent other jurisdictions, other counties even. Those interests are sometimes different. We need to have somebody that is thinking about Toledo first," said City of Toledo Director of Finance Patrick McLean.
A decision over whether to hire a lobbyist needs to be made soon. The city's balanced budget deadline at the end of March.
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