COLUMBIA--The city of Columbia pays three lobbyists to influence state legislation, and some council members question what they're getting for their money.

The city council two weeks ago renewed its contracts with four lobbyists, including one who works in Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress.

"Some of us were not comfortable with the product," said Councilman Jim Papadea.

Salaries and expenses for the city's lobbyists amount to $180,000 a year. Columbia also pays a full-time city staff member $66,000 to monitor Statehouse legislation.

Columbia is a member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, which has half a dozen employees of its own lobbying on behalf of cities.

According to the state Ethics Commission, only Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Anderson hire lobbyists who work solely for them. Greenville, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant also share one of Columbia's lobbyists. Those four cities have banded together under the name "S.C. Cities Coalition."

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said the city first hired lobbyists in the early 1990s to ward off attacks by the Legislature and to land state money for capital projects. Specifically, legislators tried to halt the city's ability to annex through its water system.

"The city has a wonderful relationship with the Legislature now. But a number of years ago, it seemed to me that we were almost under assault," Coble said.

Lobbyists also helped the city obtain $5 million from the Legislature in 2000 for infrastructure improvements on Lincoln Street to make way for the Carolina Center and the convention center.

Councilwoman Tameika Isaac said the lobbyists are useful, but she intends to evaluate their performance this year. Isaac said she's concerned about lobbyists working for the city who also work for people with opposing interests.

Some state legislators and Gov. Mark Sanford have taken a stand against government agencies spending tax dollars on lobbyists.

Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, sponsored a bill earlier this year to block state agencies from having lobbyists. The bill originally would have banned cities from hiring lobbyists, but Merrill said lobbyists fought hard to have that provision deleted.

House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Columbia, said he's opposed to municipalities trying to use lobbyists to influence legislators.

"If it is just to lobby the General Assembly ... that should be done with elected officials," he said.