Consent 1.H.
City Council Regular Business Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/09/2026
- TITLE
- Acceptance and Approval of the 2026 HIDTA Award in the Amount of $226,045
- PRESENTED BY:
- Rich St. John
- Department:
- Police
Presentation:
No
Legal Review:
No
Project Number:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve and accept the 2026 HIDTA award from the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, in the amount of $226,045, and authorize the Mayor to sign the award documents when they arrive.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Montana has been a designated High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA) since 2002, with the City of Billings administering Eastern Montana Drug Task Force grants for 24 years.
ONDCP has offered $226,045 for 2026 to support the multi-agency task force, funding a Support Specialist position, overtime, travel, equipment, supplies, and informant costs.
ONDCP has offered $226,045 for 2026 to support the multi-agency task force, funding a Support Specialist position, overtime, travel, equipment, supplies, and informant costs.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
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 twenty-four years and the City of Billings is the recipient and administrative agency for the grants. The ONDCP has offered a $226,045 grant for the calendar year 2026. The HIDTA Task Force consists of personnel from U.S. Marshals 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 2026 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, cell phones, copier maintenance agreement, investigative/office supplies, and informant costs.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The 2026 HIDTA Award in the amount of $226,045 will require no City match. The award has been budgeted in Fund 2550 for the balance of FY25/26 and any remaining funds will be budgeted in FY27.
STAKEHOLDERS
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve and accept the 2026 HIDTA Award in the amount of $226,045; or,
- Not accept the 2026 HIDTA Award in the amount of $226,045, thus costing the Public Safety Fund additional expenses for investigating and prosecuting drug-related cases.