Mobile, Ala. – At Tuesday’s city‑council meeting, Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis presented a proposal to hire Montgomery‑based lobbying firm The Bloom Group for a one‑year term at a cost of $156,000. The mayor said the firm will give Mobile greater firepower in the upcoming legislative session, especially on his top priority: sales tax reform.

Why the city is seeking outside help

Mobile and other large Alabama cities argue that the state’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax, enacted in 2015, shortchanges them. The law requires buyers to pay a flat 8 percent rate, with the state keeping half of the revenue, 30 percent going to municipalities and 20 percent to counties, distributed based on population. Larger cities like Mobile say the formula disadvantages them compared with smaller jurisdictions.

Mayor’s rationale

“It’s very complicated. It’s been a huge detriment to larger cities like ours,” Cheriogotis told reporters. He warned that without a fix, the issue could become “an existential issue” that would affect the city’s ability to fund police, fire trucks and other essential services.

Council response

City Council members Cory Penn and Samantha Ingram asked for more details about the firm’s scope of work, noting that Mobile already employs a longtime outside lobbyist, Beth Marietta Lyons. They also questioned why the city needed an additional firm when former city lobbyist Stephen McNair recently joined The Bloom Group, though he is barred from working on city matters for two years under the Alabama Ethics Act.

Councilwoman Gina Gregory likened the contract to the city’s practice of appointing city attorneys from large law firms, calling The Bloom Group “very highly respected” and saying it would add “bench strength”. Council President C.J. Small added that other Alabama cities such as Birmingham and Huntsville have already secured “the big boys” on their teams.

Funding the contract

Mayor Cheriogotis said the $156,000 expense will be covered by funds previously allocated for McNair’s salary. He emphasized that relationships matter in the Legislature and that partnering with an established firm built on trust and experience will benefit Mobile.

Next steps

The council is set to vote on the contract next week. If approved, The Bloom Group will join the city’s existing lobbying efforts to advocate for a revised tax formula that better reflects the needs of larger municipalities.

Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.