By Mary Thurwachter
Mat Forrest was a rock star with Lantana officials last year when he helped secure a $1.2 million appropriation from the state for the town’s water main replacement project.
Last month, the Town Council rewarded his efforts by renewing its $60,000 contract with Ballard Partners Inc., the state lobbying firm where Forrest works. The contract extends until Sept. 30, 2025.
During this year’s legislative session, Town Manager Brian Raducci said, Forrest was instrumental in the town’s submission of two projects totaling $2.5 million in state appropriation funding requests, though neither made it into the state’s 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. Forrest, who lives in West Palm Beach, said attempts to get state funding to Lantana this year were not successful because the $117 billion budget was a $2 billion reduction from the current fiscal year, which made it tough to get projects through for local governments.
“We did file two water projects and I think those are great projects. I think we continue to push them,” he told the council. “You did all the right things. You gave compelling reasons.
Next year, we’re going to really work on the grant side of things. I would like to file a few more projects for the town and kind of spread our options, perhaps looking in the parks area, possibly looking into things for public safety and of course, continuing in the water area.”
Mayor Karen Lythgoe said that other than the financing, Forrest is a contact for the town when “we need to get a hold of somebody in state office to put a case before them that we need some help to get some action, so it’s intangible as well as tangible with the money he brings back.”
Going forward, barring any major changes to the service requested or in terms of fees, the council also gave Raducci the ability to sign the agreements with Ballard Partners administratively without council discussion.
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