Fighting meth is tough when law enforcement doesn't have enough money for the battle. Over the past few months we've reported on the challenges the drug task force faces in getting the resources it needs.

Morgan County is having a hard time matching the federal government's Byrne Grant which offers money to the drug task force. And that is making it more difficult to catch drug users.

The drug task force in Morgan County, along with five other counties, are facing budget cuts. That's a problem for an area that collectively made 295 drug arrests last year. Drug Force Captain Tony Wheatley knows the desperate need for funding in his drug task force.

"Meth is our main problem right now in this area, but the meth doesn't stop at meth use. It runs into burglary, stolen property, violent assaults, weapons being seized in the area too," explained Wheatley.

He says their funding does not cover some of the needed equipment. In fact it barely covers basic necessities like salaries.

"We need the money to fund six full time officers, narcotic agents, to work the six counties we cover here in mid-Missouri," said Wheatley.

Morgan County Commissioner Sonny Earnest agrees the shortage of money hurts the task force.

"Cutting funds at this point sure would be crippling to their effort to control it," said Earnest. He knows the county can do others things to help the drug issue.

"Education and maybe better knowledge and participation of parents, this that and another tend to lessen it some. But it's definitely been a problem in this county," said Wheatley.

Earnest hopes funding, as well as education can improve the community in the future. The task force is in danger of going under, but officers hope to raise more than $61,000 by June to keep the program running.