In 2002, Montana was designated 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 twelve years and the City of Billings is the recipient agency for the grants.  The ONDCP has offered a $194,245 grant for the calendar year 2014.  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 2014 HIDTA Award will be used to pay for a Support Specialist position for the HIDTA Task Force, task force overtime, administrative and investigative travel,  automobile rental costs, cell phones, copier maintenance agreement, investigative/office supplies, and informant costs. HIDTA does pay for all overtime costs associated with the Task Force.  

The City Council may:

• Approve the acceptance of the 2014 HIDTA Award in the amount of $194,245, or
• Not approve the acceptance of the 2014 HIDTA Award in the amount of $194,245, thus costing the Public Safety Fund the expense of investigating and prosecuting drug related cases.

The 2014 HIDTA Award in the amount of $194,245 will require no City match. The award has been budgeted in Fund 255 for the balance of FY 13/14.