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TEAM FUNDING:

The Tri-County Metro Narcotics Squad is funded by the generous support of the county governments (taxpayers) of Eaton, Ingham, and Clinton counties. Prior to 1998 the team was funded solely by forfeiture funds seized from drug traffickers. Due to the cyclical nature of forfeiture seizures, this was a difficult way to fund the team’s operational expenses and resulted in a financial shortfall.

The Tri-County Metro Command Board worked with the county governments and developed a funding arrangement in which each county contributes to the team's operational budget based upon a population formula. At the end of the fiscal year, adjudicated forfeiture funds are then returned to each county based upon the same formula, up to the amount originally contributed.

Excess forfeitures, if any, are then dispersed to the participating agencies that assign personnel to staff the team. Michigan law requires that all forfeiture funds must be used for the enhancement of drug investigations and education.

The team also receives federal grant funding through the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy. This grant, known as the Byrne Memorial Grant, helps participating agencies offset personnel costs for the officers and special prosecutors assigned to the Metro Squad.