Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $300,000 for Police Equipment Grant
Body
Department: Police
Council District: All
Council Priority: Promote Public Safety & Reduce Crime
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Chief Wayne Scott, 373-2085
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephanie Moore, 373-2352
PURPOSE:
The Greensboro Police Department has received funds from NC Department of Revenue Unauthorized Substances Tax proceeds in the amount of $150,000 as well as proceeds from the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program (“Federal Forfeiture”) in the amount of $150,000. The department wishes to use the grant funds for equipment needs not included in their general fund budget. Approval of the budget ordinance is requested from the Greensboro City Council in accordance with current city fiscal procedures.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro Police Department wishes to purchase equipment for its officers not provided for in their general fund budget, to include replacing department’s gas masks. The masks are needed to comply with OSHA standards for officers assigned to units with the potential of being exposed to chemical munitions. The department believes the equipment is necessary in its continuing efforts to effectively reduce crime and to enhance officer safety.
NCGS 105-113.111 allows local law enforcement agencies to share in the NC Department of Revenue Unauthorized Substances Tax proceeds. The NC Department of Revenue distributes a percentage of the excise tax proceeds to the local law enforcement agency whose investigation led to the assessment.
Title 21, United States Code, Section 881 (e) allows local law enforcement agencies to share in the proceeds from the sale of seized assets and cash from certain criminal investigations. The Police Department has received proceeds from the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program based upon the Police Department’s involvement in the originating investigations and/or arrests which generate the seizures. The funds must be spent solely on law enforcement purposes by the law enforcement agency. Sharing will be withheld from any agency where federal equitable sharing funds are transferred to non-law enforcement agencies or expended for non-law enforcement purposes.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Greensboro Police Department has identified NC Department of Revenue Unauthorized Substances Tax Distribution funds and Equitable Sharing Program funds for the equipment. There is no adverse budgetary impact. The funds will be house in account 220-3597-01 (NC Dept of Revenue funds) and 220-3597-02 (Dept of Justice funds).
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is requested that the Greensboro City Council adopt the attached budget ordinance establishing funding in the amount of $150,000 from NC Department of Revenue Unauthorized Substances Tax Distribution funds and $150,000 in Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program funds for use by the Greensboro Police Department.