DRUG TASK FORCE MAY LOSE MONEY

The Brazos Valley Narcotics Task Force may receive less funding next year
because of budget cuts being made at the federal level, but officials say
that won't stop what they do.

Sheriff Chris Kirk said the task force normally receives federal funding
through the Texas governor's office totaling more than $800,000. But there
is talk that the amount could be slashed by up to 30 percent, he said.

"[The governor's office has] made it clear that there is a possibility that
we will see a reduction," Kirk said in a recent interview. "I am very
hopeful that they will fund us at similar levels we have seen in the past."

Local law enforcement agencies chip in about $200,000 to fund operations of
the task force, which targets drug activity in several Brazos Valley
counties. The annual budget is about $1.2 million.

The organization uses the money it receives through the governor's office
to pay for equipment, salaries and vehicles. Kirk said that no matter how
much less the task force might receive in grant funding, it "would still
provide the best narcotics enforcement" for the area.

Robert Black, a spokesman for the governor's office, said he was not sure
how much the task force will receive for the next fiscal year.

But he did confirm cuts were made at the federal level, so a cut in the
local funding is possible.

The granting period usually runs through August, Black added.

"We'll have to wait and see until we get to that point," he said.

The drug-fighting unit was established in 1989 when the Brazos County
Narcotics Task Force was merged with similar groups from other counties.
The Brazos Valley Narcotics Task Force employs agents from four counties -
Brazos, Grimes, Madison and Burleson - and operates separately from police
departments.

Sim Lucas, commander of the task force since May, said the 12-member team
will still operate if funding is reduced. But he is not sure where
adjustments would have to be made, saying it would depend on the amount of
the cut.

"If we get cut, it will make it a whole lot harder to cover the four
counties with the miles we drive," he said, citing the increase in gasoline
prices.

But, Lucas said, a majority of the drug busts conducted by the task force
are in Brazos County because of the higher population and the presence of
Texas A&M University.

In the next month, task force board members will submit a budget request to
the government in hopes that the group will be fully funded. Meanwhile,
Kirk said, all they can do is wait and continue to work.

"It's hard for us to speculate," he said. "Obviously, we hope we get fully
funded, but whatever level of funding we get, we will do our best to battle
this problem in our communities."