Pubdate: Wed, 06 Aug 2003
Source: Examiner, The (Independence, MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Examiner
Contact:  http://www.examiner.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3074
Author: Darla McFarland, The Examiner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Kansas+City

VOTERS RENEW COMBAT SALES TAX

The results had about 67 percent of Kansas City voters voting in favor
of the one-fourth cent sales tax, or the Community Backed Anti-drug
Tax. Until that point, initial reports from Eastern Jackson County
were slightly closer at about 65 to 35 percent in favor of approval.

"I'll take any win but I love a big win," said Jackson County
Executive Katheryn Shields, speaking to the crowd of about 70
supporters at the Adam's Mark Hotel. "I want to thank the voters of
Jackson County who obviously know when they have a good thing and are
willing to go to the polls to keep it."

Final poll results put the vote at 10,623 to 5,194 in favor in Kansas
City and 11,644 to 7,197 approving the tax in Eastern Jackson County,
for a total of 22,267 for and 12,391 against. That total vote was 64.2
percent in favor and 35.7 percent against. It required a simple
majority for passage. In addition to the one-fourth cent COMBAT tax,
Jackson Countians pay a one-half cent sales tax for the general fund.

The vote represents less than 10 percent of eligible voters in the
county.

County Prosecutor Mike Sanders also spoke Tuesday about the impact of
COMBAT in the community. He recounted the story of a 60-year-old man,
a graduate of the county's drug court, who recovered from 40 years of
substance abuse and was reunited with his family.

"That story really touched my heart and showed me what an important
role COMBAT has for the families in Jackson County and that is only
one of thousands," Sanders said.

COMBAT, first approved by voters in 1989, collects from $16 million to
$18 million annually for anti-drug law enforcement, treatment and
prevention. Through its programs, officials said, the tax supports
4,300 drug treatment slots, about 15 dedicated drug prosecutors, a
drug court, the Jackson County Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the
majority of the county's DARE programs.

"Many other communities are having to choose between their basic
services and drug prevention programs like DARE," said COMBAT program
administrator Jim Nunnelly. "COMBAT has allowed Jackson County to keep
these things going and we've reached more than 150,000 young people so
far."

With the voters approval, the COMBAT tax is renewed for seven more
years. Administrators will meet over the next few weeks to discuss
strategy and new programming, Nunnelly said.

Supporters this year tried to highlight the treatment side of COMBAT's
programs, including services offered by Comprehensive Mental Health
Services in Independence.

"In the past two campaigns, the focus has been heavily on the law
enforcement side," said CMHS executive director William Kyles. "This
time, I think people really responded to the treatment and prevention
aspects and how important that is to the community."

Among its many services, CMHS operates a residential drug treatment
facility in Independence that Kyles said would not exist without
COMBAT support. The agency also does drug prevention education in five
area school districts.

"There are a lot of out clients who wouldn't be able to get services
if not for COMBAT funds," Kyles said. "It has really been a backbone
of the treatment effort."

COMBAT opponent Richard Tolbert, of Kansas City, said he believes
voters were simply misled by COMBAT propaganda and that the tax is
ineffective.

"There are some things you can stop people from doing and there are
some things, like drugs, that you can't," Tolbert said Tuesday night.
"The truth is that drug abuse is still rising under COMBAT."

Nonetheless, the COMBAT tax has drawn attention from other counties
who want to address growing drug activity in their
communities.

"I have people in the Legislature asking me what Jackson County is
doing and how they can do it," said state Representative Paul LaVota,
52nd District. "COMBAT is a great model for how we can address the
drug problem statewide." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake