The Haines Borough has hired former state house Rep. Bill Thomas as a consultant.
Manager David Sosa this month hired Thomas for one month for a fee of $5,000.
Thomas is helping borough staff develop entries for the state’s grant request system. He will also assist them in developing a legislative strategy: who to talk to, what to talk to them about and when during the session to approach them.
Sosa said Thomas’ insight will help the borough’s leading funding priorities – wastewater treatment facility upgrades, Lutak Dock replacement, road improvements and Small Boat Harbor expansion – stay on the radar.
“(Thomas) is in a position to let us know who we need to engage with and on what timeline in order to move some of our projects forward,” Sosa said.
Every year, the borough enters its priority projects into a state funding request system called CAPSIS. In the entries, the borough pleads its case for why its projects should be funded.
Thomas knows the “key words” to use, and “the terms that resonate with the legislators and their staff,” Sosa said.
“Given the tough state fiscal environment, I feel that it is vitally important that the appropriate language be included so that our issues will get the attention that they deserve,” Sosa said.
Thomas said he agreed to take on the job because he wants to see Haines succeed. If the municipality can’t secure funding from the legislature for critical projects, their cost will be borne by taxpayers, he said.
Thomas said he didn’t understand why the borough didn’t just hire him as a lobbyist. “I think they should just hire me and say, ‘This is what we want.’”
Instead, he is basically teaching the borough to lobby for itself. “I think they want to do it themselves,” he said. “I respect that, but you’re not going to get the door access I will.”
“I didn’t write the game plan. I am just trying to help them,” he added.
Thomas has been meeting twice a week for one-hour meetings with borough staff to go over CAPSIS entries and develop the “communication and outreach plan.” He started on the job Jan. 5 and will work until Feb. 6.