There’s no arguing that Twin Falls has reaped the benefits of earmarks over the years.

For example, federal earmarks — spending for specific projects sponsored by members of Congress — have brought $1.6 million for wastewater work at Auger Falls. They also provided $100,000 to the Twin Falls Public Library to digitize a century’s worth of newspaper microfilm and other historical records.

But with a two-year moratorium on federal earmarks in place, Twin Falls is shifting its focus more to federal grants. That means that the city will need to retool and evaluate what it gains from its Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist, Will Hollier.

Hollier’s services cost the city a flat fee of $5,000 a month — $60,000 each year, city and federal records show. A former staffer for U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, Hollier has lobbied for the city since 2004, first with Gallatin Public Affairs and later with his own firm, Hollier & Associates.

“Now with Congress having a turn and twist in how they do earmarks, we’ve had conversations to say: ‘How are we best leveraging the $60,000 we spend on an annual basis?’” City Manager Travis Rothweiler said, calling Hollier’s rate of return “phenomenal.”

Hollier’s work hasn’t been limited to earmarks. He lobbied for the land transfer in which the city gained 165 acres near Auger Falls from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2009.

But applying for federal grants is different from asking an Idaho congressman to sponsor an earmark for a project in his district — and much more competitive. How the city will step up those efforts remains to be seen.

Currently, Hollier looks for grant opportunities that fit with the city’s goals and passes suggestions to city officials. That’s expected to continue for the city’s upcoming fiscal year, which begins in October.

The cost for lobbying has been planned into next year’s budget, Rothweiler said. From there, the city and its lobbying firm will continue to monitor the effectiveness of their partnership.

“When we looked at this, we said, ‘Let’s give this a year,’” Rothweiler said. “Let’s see how it works as we continue to move forward. Let’s continue to be very objective. Let’s be careful to scrutinize it.”

Possibilities for the future include hiring a grant administrator for the city, or giving that work to the new assistant city manager after that person is hired, Rothweiler said.

Hollier said the move away from earmarks will make it more difficult for cities to secure dollars for projects often needed to meet federal mandates, like maximum arsenic levels in municipal drinking water.

Cities like Twin Falls compete for earmarks only against other communities in their congressional district — not every city in the nation seeking a grant, he said.

“Now you’re back into the days of nothing but federal bureaucrats controlling the money,” Hollier said, adding that Idaho’s elected leaders have a better knowledge of their constituents’ needs than outside observers.

Though members cannot directly sponsor earmarks, Idaho’s congressional delegation helps grant applicants, writing letters of support and helping constituents navigate the labyrinth of the federal process.

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said in a statement that his office has staff available to assist, though cuts to federal programs will make grant opportunities even more limited and competitive.

“In the future, communities across the country are not going to find much help forthcoming from the federal government as it finally confronts its own fiscal crisis,” Simpson said.

Ben Botkin may be reached at bbotkin@magicvalley.com or 735-3238.