Uncertain Future for Anti-Drug Task Force
The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team’s future could be in jeopardy.
One of its major sources of federal grant money is coming very close to going out of existence.
Most of the money in the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant is being pulled, effective immediately.
It’s funded Michigan drug enforcement teams like UPSET for more than 20 years.
In fact, UPSET received nearly $400,000 in Byrne grants last year, just a piece of the $9 million in Byrne money that came into the state.
UPSET’s share is now down from that nearly $400,000 to just $115,000.
UPSET has used Byrne funds to help local agencies and the Michigan State Police cover the cost of providing staff to them.
Other agencies will now have to cover most of those costs on their own, something they may not be able to do.