COLBERT TASK FORCE GETS GRANT

TUSCUMBIA - A state grant will keep the Colbert County Drug Task Force
operating for at least another 12 months.

There was some concern that with the state budget deficit, the 12-year-old
task force wouldn't get its annual allotment from the Alabama Department of
Economic and Community Affairs. The task force received $160,000, the same
amount as last year.

Colbert County District Attorney Gary Alverson requested more money,
primarily to add two officers to the task force. That would have brought
the total number of officers up to five, but Alverson was not disappointed
that his request was denied.

"It's kind of a wish list," he said. "We're always looking to improve our
efficiency, and that almost always means adding personnel."

The task force's member agencies - Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield,
Leighton, Littleville and Cherokee - must come up with about $53,000 in
matching funds to receive the grant. This year, there was enough money in
the task force's forfeiture fund to match the grant. Alverson said that
fund totals "well over $100,000."

"We don't totally rely on the grant money," he said. "We supplement that
with local funds. We have a forfeiture fund that we keep a substantial
amount in for items not covered by the grant."

The task force's $213,300 operating budget is also flat this year. "All we
can do is make the best use of the money we have," said Colbert County
Sheriff Ronnie May. He oversees the operations end of the task force.
"We're always looking for new and innovative ways to use money more
effectively."

May is less worried about dealing with a flat budget than with losing the
state money entirely. He wasn't sure if the task force could survive losing
that money.

"All we can do is evaluate our priorities and use the money in those
directions," he said. "That doesn't leave a lot of room for increases even
though we know some areas need work."

Alverson didn't know when the state would release the money. The current
grant doesn't end until May 31.