Pubdate: Tue, 15 May 2001
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2001, The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36

PROPOSED BUDGET FOR METH FIGHTING CUT

A budget proposal in the state war on methamphetamine has been trimmed
from $40 million to $30 million, the governor's office has announced.

The cut in the proposal first made in January is due to shortages in
the state's general fund as it continues to cope with the energy
crisis, officials said.

Partners in the methamphetamine war -- the federally funded High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, including the Central Valley HIDTA
which serves Kern County -- would welcome the sizeable infusion of
drug-fighting funds, officials said Tuesday. They don't look at is as
losing $10 million, but gaining $30 million, officials said.

Any part of the governor's proposal that is approved in the
Legislature later this year would be a boost to drug-fighting efforts,
reported Bill Ruzzamenti, executive director of the Central Valley
HIDTA. He noted the regional HIDTA has a $2.5 million budget for the
coming year, which mainly pays for overtime and equipment expenses in
drug investigations and raids.

Two such raids were conducted April 24 in Bakersfield and May 2 in
Hanford.

The governor's proposal, which is part of the state's Methamphetamine
Act of 1998, would be used to finance officers -- especially those
from small police agencies -- and equipment to battle the production
and use of methamphetamine, he said.

It would enable more law enforcement agencies to participate in both
the state and HIDTA drug enforcement efforts, according to Ruzzamenti
and Kern County Sheriff's Narcotics Cmdr. Hal Chealander.

The Kern County Sheriff's Department, the Bakersfield Police
Department and the Delano Police Department are the only ones in Kern
County that have committed officers to the regional HIDTA unit,
Chealander said.

If state methamphetamine money becomes available, other agencies such
as Shafter, Taft and Arvin could participate, Chealander said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek