In 2002, Montana was designated as a High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA).  The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has awarded grants to the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force for fifteen years and the City of Billings is the recipient agency for the grants.  The ONDCP has offered a $221,450 grant for the calendar year 2017.  The grant is used to battle the drug epidemic in Montana communities.  The HIDTA Task Force consists of personnel from U.S. Marshal's Service, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, and the Billings Police Department.  The Task Force is managed by a Sergeant from the Billings Police Department.  The 2017 HIDTA Award will be used to pay for a Support Specialist position for the HIDTA task force, all task force overtime, administrative and investigative travel,  automobile rental costs, cell phones, copier maintenance agreement, investigative/office supplies, and informant costs.   

The City Council may:

• Approve and accept the 2017 HIDTA Award in the amount of $221,450, or
• Not accept the 2017 HIDTA Award in the amount of $221,450, thus costing the Public Safety Fund additional expenses for investigating and prosecuting drug related cases.

The 2017 HIDTA Award in the amount of $221,450 will require no City match. The award has been budgeted in Fund 2550 for the balance of FY 16/17 and any remaining funds will be budgeted in FY18.