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 sixteen years and the City of Billings is the recipient and administrative agency for the grants.  The ONDCP has offered a $231,796 grant for the calendar year 2019.  The HIDTA Task Force consists of personnel from U.S. Marshal's Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), State of Montana 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 2019 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.   

In November, 2019 the Rocky Mountain HIDTA Executive Board approved additional monies to fund a local coalition of service providers designed to address addiction issues.  The Billings Police Department is the fiduciary for Eastern Montana HIDTA.  The additional funds awarded are $200,000 and are earmarked for treatment solutions.  The total of the new award is $431,796. 

The City Council may:

• Approve and accept the new 2019 HIDTA Award in the amount of $431,796, or
• Not accept the new 2019 HIDTA Award in the amount of $431,796, which would result in less resources to address addiction issues. 

The 2019 HIDTA Award in the amount of $431,796 will require no City match.