THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT
WHEREAS, in 1996 Congress began providing flexible funding directly to local governments
through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) and cities have effectively used these
block grant funds for prevention, increased police presence, and technology and equipment, among
other activities; and
WHEREAS, many cities have used the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant very effectively in
tandem with the COPS program to expand community policing efforts; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice has done a superb job in effectively and efficiently
administering the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant; and
WHEREAS, the nation must remain diligent on crime prevention and control efforts to ensure
that past gains are maintained and that crime rates are further reduced, especially as they relate to
youth violence and crime, new and evolving drug-related crime concerns, a rise in gang violence,
and in light of the return of over 600,000 ex-offenders from prisons and jails back into local
communities each year --many of whom will have not received needed drug treatment; and
WHEREAS, the LLEBG is one of the few federal-local partnership programs which allows for
overtime assistance, which has become even more important as cities respond to the new homeland
war against terrorism post September 11; and
WHEREAS, in FY 2002, the LLEBG was cut by more than 23 percent, from $523 million to
$400 million; and
WHEREAS, the Administration's Fiscal Year 2004 budget proposes to eliminate the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant by merging it with the state-based Byrne Formula Grant program, with
overall funding for the new Justice Assistance Grant program cut by more than 40 percent,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors registers its
strong support for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and urges that it not be merged with
the state-based Byrne Grant program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant should be funded
at a minimum amount of $523 million in Fiscal Year 2004, which reflects funding levels prior to
the 23 percent cut in FY 2002.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
