By Ed Somers
December 8, 2003

Major cuts will be made to a host of key local law enforcement programs under the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2004 which Congress is about to vote on unless changes can be made to the bill.

Under the bill (H.Rept. 108-401), which is scheduled for House and Senate floor action the week of December 8, the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant would be cut by 44 percent to $225 million and the COPS program would be cut by 24 percent to $487 million.

One of the major cuts in COPS funding is in the area of hiring programs, with funds cut from $200 million last year to $115 million in FY 2004.

And, of the $225 million for LLEBG, only $132 million would be available to local governments through the program after the traditional earmarks are accounted for.

The Conference of Mayors has been working to maintain level funding for these key programs under the leadership of Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner, along with Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force Chair Scott L. King of Gary and Criminal and Social Justice Committee Chair J. Christian Bollwage of Elizabeth.

In commenting on these proposed cuts, Garner said, "Mayors and police chiefs know that the fight against crime continues in cities across the nation. With cities facing the added responsibility of providing homeland security at the local level, as well as state and local budget shortfalls, Congress must not reduce funding for law enforcement programs which have proven effective in reducing crime."

"The nation's mayors urge Congress to reject the proposed cuts in our key law enforcement partnership programs, especially the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and the COPS program," Garner added.

In addition to these cuts, the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant would be cut by 68 percent to $60 million, state drug treatment funding for prisons would be eliminated, and drug court funding would be cut. In one positive move, funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) would be increased from $248 million to $300 million.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to act on the Consolidated bill the week of December 8. However, objections are expected to be raised in the Senate, which could delay final action on the bill until January of 2004.

Following is a breakdown of key law enforcement programs under the proposed Consolidated Bill.