Drug Task Force Police position funding
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MEMORANDUM
March 2, 2006
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 18-County Drug Task Force
Currently, the Dubuque Police Department participates with the Iowa Division of
Narcotics Enforcement in providing a police officer to work with the 18-County Eastern
Iowa Clan Lab Task Force. The position began July 1, 2004 and was initially scheduled
for two years with hopes of continual funding. The State of Iowa has advised that
because of reduced federal funding, the City must begin providing a 25% match
($19,118.60) beginning July 1, 2006.
The Fiscal Year 2005 Police Department budget has funds available that could be
carried over into Fiscal Year 2006 to cover this expense for one year.
Through next year's Fiscal Year 2008 budget process, the funding source for this
position would need to be evaluated based on competing demands and priorities.
The City Council will see a recommendation for a budget amendment to implement this
funding.
No action is required on this tonight.
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Michael C. Van Milligen CTf1)
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
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MEMORANDUM
Date: March 1, 2006
To: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
From: Kim B. wadding1/{J
Police Chief
Re: 18-County Drug Task Force Officer - Funding Change
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to explain a funding reduction regarding the police
department's federally funded 18-County Drug Task Force Officer. Currently, this
position receives full funding for salary and benefits. Due to federal funding cuts, the
funding is being reduced to a cost-sharing effort with federal funds providing 75% of
federal funds for officer salary and benefits ($57,355.80) and 25% shared with local
government ($19,118.60) for the FY2007 funding year.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the Dubuque Police Department participates with the Iowa Division of
Narcotics Enforcement in providing a police officer to work with the 18-County Eastern
Iowa Clan Lab Task Force. The position began July 1, 2004 and was initially scheduled
for two years with hopes of continual funding. Officer Tom Pregler of the Dubuque
Police Department was selected to serve as this task force officer. The Iowa Division of
Narcotics Enforcement (ONE) is the project director and coordinator for the 18-County
Drug Task Force with federal funding coming from the Department of Justice COPS
Office.
The 18-County Drug Task Force Officer works in cooperation with the local Dubuque
County Drug Task Force. Funding for the Dubuque County Drug Task Force comes
from the Federal Byrne Grant Formula funding a Dubuque County Sheriff Deputy and a
civilian coordinator in a shared funding match of 75% federal grant dollars and 25%
local match.
DISCUSSION
Yesterday I spoke with Ken Carter, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement Director,
and Dennis Wiggins, Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy, who administrates
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the Department of Justice COPS monies and the Federal Byrne Grant Formula funding.
Dennis Wiggins said that due to continual Federal funding cuts to the COPS and Byrne
grant funding, it has become necessary to combine both programs and have a cost
sharing of officer salary and benefits to stretch remaining dollars.
The Department of Justice COPS allocated monies was reduced from 1.5 million in
FY05 to 1.3 million in FY06 (13% reduction) while the Federal Byrne Grant Formula
funding went from 3.1 million in FY05 to 1.8 million in FY06 (41 % reduction). Currently
President Bush has eliminated the Department of Justice COPS monies and the
Federal Byrne Grant Formula funding for FY07.
Beginning July 1,2006, the salary and benefits for the 18-County Clan Lab Task Force
Officer is $76,474.40 ($50,386.75 salary and $26,087.65 benefits). Through the
combining of these two grant programs with combined funding to begin July 1, 2006 the
cost of the 25% match is $19,118.60. The grant mechanism to incorporate this funding
change for the 18-County Clan Lab Task Force Officer would be to add this position to
the Federal Byrne Grant Formula grant application which is due to the Iowa Governor's
Office of Drug Control Policy April 10, 2006. Although this is a competitive grant
process, the outlook for funding appears positive due to the combining of both grant
programs.
RECOMMENDATION
With the combination of the two grant programs and funding of the 25% cash match of
$19,118.60, it becomes viable to extend the efforts of the 18-County Clan Lab Task
Force Officer through the FY07 year. Realizing the FY07 budget process is near
closure, I would propose the 25% cash match is funded through current salary savings
with the unplanned retirement of Officer Baker effective March 2, 2006 and the military
deployment of two officers.
ACTION REQUESTED
Action requested is to continue the position of the 18-County Clan Lab Task Force
officer by transferring the position over to the Dubuque County Drug Task Force through
the submission of the Federal Byrne Grant application due April 1 0, 2006.