But when they want their senator or representative to help them get a federal grant, or earmark, many city leaders turn to lobbyists to do the talking.

Some watchdogs and even a few city leaders find the practice distasteful.

"You would like to think you could just go to your representative and make the best case and hope for the best outcome," said West Jordan City Manager Gary Luebbers. "That is not exactly how it works."

More than two dozen cities and counties from Utah have contracted with Washington lobbyists, and many of them have been successful in getting earmarks to pay for everything from building new roads to expanding police programs to remodeling city halls.

Last year, Utah cities spent nearly $1.3 million on lobbyists, some of whom previously worked for Utah's members of Congress. With the help of those members, they secured more than $9 million in earmarks. This year, a number of medium-sized cities like Herriman, Lehi and South Salt Lake have boosted their lobbying budgets.

West Jordan is the largest Utah city not to hire a lobbyist. It is also the largest city not to get an earmark last year. Luebbers doesn't think that is a coincidence, but the city has no plans to follow the pack.

"I think part of it is almost on principle. You shouldn't have to do that," Luebbers said.

The city still tries to get federal funding, but does it the old-fashioned way. Luebbers and other city leaders meet with the staff of Utah's senators and Rep. Chris Cannon, who has an office in the West Jordan City Hall.

West Jordan's requests have gone largely unfulfilled over the years, and Luebbers' frustration has grown as he has seen surrounding cities such as Eagle Mountain and Riverton routinely bring in earmarks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cannon doesn't favor cities that hire lobbyists, said his spokesman, Fred Piccolo. "[But] working through the appropriations process is a complicated task. Competent Washington representation can certainly be helpful to both the cities and the delegation."

A lobbyist can help cities identify projects that could qualify for an earmark and can help the member of Congress identify the pot of money to tap. Lobbyists also seek competitive grants and track legislation affecting cities.

The process often pits cities against each other, as members of Congress can only request a limited number of earmarks.

No city is more aggressive than Sandy, which spent nearly $200,000 last year on lobbyist Bill Simmons and his firm Dutko World Wide.

Nonpartisan groups such as Taxpayers for Common Sense, which monitors earmarks, criticize cities for hiring "middle men," who make a profit off government-to-government relations.

Sandy justifies its spending with three words: "return on investment," said city spokeswoman Trina Duerksen. The city has boasted more than $1 million in earmarks year after year.

"The dollars at stake and policy decisions are just too important to not maintain a highly qualified presence in Washington," Duerksen said.

And if Sandy doesn't get the money, another city will.

Salt Lake City has a similar approach.

"As long as the Congress is operating with earmarks, we will try to pursue our fair share of appropriations," said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker.

Salt Lake City is now trying to get earmarks to help build a new police building and start a streetcar system in Sugar House. But the city's longtime lobbyist Len Simon said chasing earmarks is a minor part of his job.

Eagle Mountain, a burgeoning Utah County city, has little interest in anything but earmarks in Washington.

"We are growing so rapidly, we need to improve our infrastructure in a very quick fashion," said Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson.

She proudly points out the $1.2 million in earmarks the city has received in the last five years with the help of Cannon and Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett. Most recently, they helped get federal funds for the construction of a commercial park.

Luebbers, the West Jordan city manager, may not like the game, but he does recognize the successes of those who have played it.

"I'm not thrilled about the whole theory behind it, but I'm also a realist," he said. "It has worked well for them. Look at what they have gotten."

mcanham@sltrib.com