By Gary Gerhardt
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

The Governor's Task Force on Victims' Support for the Columbine High School tragedy met Wednesday to explore ways to tap $8 million in potential state, federal and private funding sources.

The task force will make sure resources Jefferson County needs are available and will coordinate efforts among agencies, said Bob Brooks, director of the state Department of Local Affairs.

The 20-member task force, which met in Golden City Council chambers, consists of some of the governor's highest-level Cabinet members and Jefferson County officials, including Commissioner Pat Holloway, District Attorney Dave Thomas, Sheriff John Stone and Harriet Hall, director of the Jefferson Center for Mental Health.

During a briefing, Jefferson County administrator Ron Holliday said mental health officials spent more than 1,200 hours counseling students at 13 schools as of April 29. And 80 law enforcement officers racked up 4,000 hours of overtime in the first week.

Officials expressed thanks to Gov. Bill Owens for making $1 million in emergency funds available, saying $500,000 went to the school district, $125,000 to mental health, and $375,000 to the county, district attorney and sheriff's office.

The task force voted unanimously to accept Holliday's recommendation that they: