Border areas get more homeland security funds, but state as a whole gets cut back

  PHOENIX - Arizona border cities and counties are getting more federal aid for homeland security - but the rest of the state will be getting less.

  Arizona is going to get $9.8 million out of $60 million allocated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of its Operation Stonegarden program. Leesa Morrison, Arizona's homeland security chief, said that is a 36 percent boost over the prior allocation.

  Morrison said those funds must be used strictly for law enforcement related to border security. She said that can include everything from overtime for police officers to specialized equipment.

  But Morrison said Arizona's share of $861.3 million from the State Homeland Security Program will be just $13.4 million; it had been $15.6 million.

  Where those funds go is yet to be determined. Morrison said the cash will be divided up by five regional councils that consider requests for funding from communities throughout the state.

  Morrison said the news is a mixed blessing for Arizona. "We don't now why we got a 14 percent decrease,'' Morrison said of the statewide grant.

  But Morrison said she believes the big boost in Stonegarden funding for border communities was a result of some lobbying and education of both Congress and the federal Department of Homeland Security about the particular law enforcement needs in the state.

  "Arizona has the most porous border in the nation with the highest rate of illegal immigrant interdictions,'' she said.

  Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the latest $1.8 billion round of grants brings the total awarded since the 2001 terrorist attacks to about $25 billion.

  In a prepared statement, Chertoff acknowledged that not every state or community got what it wanted - or believes it deserved.

  "Investments are made where risk is greatest, and where recipients have a clear need and plan to produce results,'' he said.

  Tucson and Phoenix also got their own grants as did most big cities. But while some communities across the nation got big increases - Chertoff specifically mentioned New York, San Francisco and Houston - the amount for the two Arizona "Tier 1'' cites was actually down.

  Tucson's $4.7 million allocation dropped by about $200,000. Phoenix took a $300,000 hit in its $11.6 million grant.

  But a separate Metropolitan Medical Response System Program resulted in Tucson, Phoenix, Mesa and Glendale each getting
$328,000.

  And a relatively new program aimed solely at Indian tribes will result in $180,000 for the Gila River Indian Community, $175,000 for the Tohono O'odham Nation and $149,000 for the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community.