The Dallas County Commission agreed to donate $10,000 to the to the Drug Task Force Appropriation on Monday.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson asked for $20,000, but said he was grateful for the donation. The amount was amended into the Dallas County’s fiscal budget for 2019. It’s the third straight year the Commission donated $10,000 to the task force.

The task force is run by Jackson, who also presides as District Attorney over the Fourth Judicial District that includes Dallas, Bibb, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties.

Jackson said the Task Force’s overall budget and expenses are around $500,000 a year. He spoke at the Dallas County Commission meeting.

“The Task Force works with the U.S. Marshall, Secret Service, FBI, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Selma Police Department,” Jackson said. “They’re a big resource we have, but it costs a lot. We’re trying to get the city of Selma and Dallas County some help.”

Commissioner Larry Nickles said the county had other priorities and fixing roads sit atop the list.

“We support the District Attorney office, but we had expenditures in our budget that we didn’t see coming,” Nickles said.

Jackson said he estimates 20 murders a year in the Queen City and Dallas County.

“The drug task force helps the local, state and federal agents in our area to help stamp out drugs and violent crime,” Jackson said. “I shudder to think about what would happen if they were not around.”