Pubdate: Sat, 02 Aug 2003
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: BENITA Y. WILLIAMS

BALLOT MEASURE TO DETERMINE FUTURE OF ANTI-DRUG TAX

Jackson County voters onTuesday will decide whether to extend the county's 
quarter-cent anti-drug tax for seven years.

The Community-Backed Anti-Drug Tax, or COMBAT, first was approved in 1989 
and is set to expire in March 2004. COMBAT expects to raise about $19.8 
million this year for law enforcement, drug treatment and drug prevention.

Supporters credit the tax with closing drug houses, reforming drug addicts 
and reducing teen narcotics use.

Critics say the continuing prevalence of drugs demonstrates the program's 
failure. They also question the allocation of money, saying COMBAT spends 
too much on law enforcement and too little on treatment and prevention.

This year about 15 percent of the tax money will go to treatment agencies 
and about 13.5 percent will go to prevention programs. About 28.5 percent 
will be allocated to law enforcement and the prosecutor's office. About 33 
percent will go toward programs in the court and county jail that also 
involve treatment. The remaining 10 percent will help COMBAT agencies and 
others obtain anti-drug grants.

The COMBAT Commission will dispense the money to about 80 police 
departments, hospitals, clinics, school districts and community groups.

Supporters, including County Executive Katheryn Shields and County 
Prosecutor Mike Sanders, cite numbers that they say show the tax's success.

Sanders said that since 1991, COMBAT has closed more than 7,200 drug 
houses, removed more than $300 million in controlled substances from the 
streets and provided 4,300 treatment slots a year for adults and adolescents.

Supporters note the results from drug court, which allows nonviolent 
offenders to receive treatment instead of prosecution. They say 90 percent 
of the 1,000 graduates from drug court weren't arrested for the five-year 
period during which researchers tracked them.

They also credit COMBAT prevention programs with reducing teen drug use. 
Shields has noted a local annual survey that found drug use among Jackson 
County teens was lower than those in other metropolitan counties. A 
sociology professor said the reports indicated, but did not prove, a link 
between COMBAT and the county's lower drug.

The Citizens for Crime Reduction, the group campaigning for COMBAT, has 
raised about $120,335 for its campaign according to disclosure reports 
filed Monday. The tax has received support from the mayors and city 
councils of most Jackson County municipalities as well as area police 
departments, civic groups and unions.

Two organizations are opposed to the tax renewal: the Jackson County 
Taxpayers Association and the Organized Opposition to the Jackson County 
Anti-Drug Tax.

Jackson County Taxpayers executive director Bob Gough said his group has 
about 100 members and has raised about $300. Organized Opposition spokesman 
Richard Tolbert did not specify this group's membership, and said the group 
is not soliciting campaign donations.

Detractors say COMBAT supporters rely on anecdotal testimonials to show the 
tax's successes but have no evidence to support their claims. Tolbert says 
many of COMBAT's reported successes could be achieved without a special 
sales tax.

Critics also say too much COMBAT money goes for enforcement. They say 
enforcement is aimed at street dealers and not at suppliers who bring drugs 
into the country.

The Jackson County Taxpayers Association also criticized COMBAT's support 
of Drug Abuse Resistance Education. They noted national studies suggesting 
DARE is ineffective. COMBAT supporters disagree, saying their program goes 
beyond the national DARE curriculum.

To reach Benita Y. Williams, Jackson County reporter, call (816) 234-4789 
or send e-mail to Aug. 5 ballot language

Question 1: Shall the County of Jackson continue its countywide anti-drug 
sales tax (COMBAT) at the rate of one-quarter of 1 percent for a period of 
seven years solely for the purpose of the arrest and prosecution of those 
accused of drug-related offenses, the prevention of such offenses, 
including DARE programs, and the incarceration, rehabilitation, treatment 
and judicial processing of adult and juvenile violators of drug-related 
offenses? The proceeds of this tax shall continue to be deposited in a 
special Jackson County Anti-Drug Sales Tax Trust Fund, separate from the 
general fund and any other special funds.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens