By Dave Gatton
May 24, 2004

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special task force on first responder funding met in Washington (DC) on May 12 to continue its effort to help "unstick" homeland security funding to local governments.

Chaired by Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and co-chaired by United States Conference of Mayors Vice President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic, the task force met in a full-day session to begin formulation of recommendations to facilitate the flow of funds from state capitals to local governments. All big seven organizations are represented on the task force. In addition to Plusquellic, Conference Advisory Board Chairman Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill and Conference Criminal and Social Justice Committee Chair Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage attended the meeting.

The task force was created by DHS Secretary Tom Ridge in response to President Bush's commitment before the January 2004 Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors to "unstuck," in the President's words, homeland security funding. The current system has resulted in many funds having to pass through three levels of bureaucracy — federal, state and county — before funds are available to cities where many agree the nation's homeland security high threat targets exist. While the task force's mandate does not include recommendations to alter the structure of that system, it is developing administrative changes to help expedite funds through the bureaucracies in question.

"I believe we are making progress in our discussion to come up with administrative changes that will help," said Plusquellic. "Given current world events, I think there is strong support among the public for us to strengthen our homeland security system and to get it right. ... The task force is a good first step," he said.

The task force will present its recommendations to Secretary Ridge in June.