Although the Governor=s budget proposed a 3% increase in state funds for the Attorney General for activities other drug law enforcement, but the total resources available to the Attorney General would have actually declined from $42.3 million to $41.18 million. This is a decline of more than $1.1 million.

    The primary reason why total funds available to the Attorney General will be reduced is due to a reduction in restricted revenues from drug forfeitures and public protection fines. The administration and the Attorney General estimate that revenue from state drug forfeitures will decline by 55% and that revenue from drug forfeitures from the federal Treasury Department will decline by 63%.

    Furthermore, recoveries by the public protection division of the Attorney General are projected to decline by $584,000 [42%]. This is due to the fact that the Attorney General intends to redirect the work of some of his staff in the direction of hospital and utility mergers. According to the Attorney General, this work is necessary, but will not bring funds directly to the government.

    According to the Attorney General, the Governor=s budget would have reduced the Attorney General complement by 30 persons. However the Conference Committee report does not any funding to the General Government appropriation.

    In addition to General Government Operations, beginning in the current fiscal year, the Attorney General has received a separate appropriation for the Capital Appeals Case Unit. The Conference Committee continues the appropriation of $500,000.

    The Governor=s budget supported the current complement of the Drug Law Enforcement of the Attorney General. The Attorney General requested an additional $1.5 million to double the size of the Philadelphia Drug Strike force. Twenty-five new Narcotics Agents would be hired. Costs are phased in on a nine-month basis. The Conference Committee has added a new appropriation of $1.517 million for a Drug Strike Force.

    The Attorney General contended that the Governor=s request for Local Drug Task Forces would lead to the layoff of 1 of the current 42 filled positions. The Attorney General has requested an additional $30,000. The Conference Committee Report does add any additional funding for the Local Drug Task Forces.