The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force’s excitement was short lived following news of a $297,000 grant at the beginning of the month.

Capt. Mike Donaldson knew the grant was less than it used to be, but he hoped the federal government would help keep that Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant alive.

The grant awarded $5.5 million to law enforcement agencies throughout the state this year. While Mr. Donaldson said Congress could restore the justice grant, the federal government left it in limbo.

“It went to the federal level, and an increase passed in the Senate ... but for some reason got cut,” Mr. Donaldson said.

The grant will be the topic of discussion in Congress this week during several hearings regarding the possible federal re-funding of the grant, Mr. Donaldson said.

The department knew that the $297,000 would only get them through June of 2009, but they didn’t know that the future beyond that would be so uncertain.

“They may vote on it in September, but there is a good possibility we won’t know exactly how much money we are getting until June,” Mr. Donaldson said.

Mr. Donaldson said the Strike Force currently receives no state funding, and the justice grant is the primary funding source for departments like the Strike Force across the nation.

If Mr. Donaldson is given bad news about grant funding for 2009, he says personnel and operational capabilities will be the first to go.

“Every year we get only so much money and we do what we can with what we’ve got,” Mr. Donaldson said.

News of the possibility of the grant going back through Congress came just after the Strike Force issued eight warrants to individuals in connection with cocaine possession last week.

“Every year we get only so much money and we do what we can with what we’ve got,” Mr. Donaldson said.

Megan Tilk can be reached

at megantilk@npgco.com.