OPENNESS ON ANTI-DRUG TAX

The investigation of Jackson County's anti-drug tax hit an
embarrassing roadblock this week.

County Executive Katheryn Shields locked some tax records behind jail
bars in the courthouse, emphasizing yet again the controversy that
surrounds this issue. The county executive, Prosecutor Michael Sanders
and county legislators have been trading barbs for months about
possible inappropriate spending of the Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax.

To resolve these disputes, the county Legislature hired an independent
audit firm to determine whether the COMBAT funds were spent properly.

This week Shields suddenly hired another firm to lock away many
documents that are part of the material being audited. The audit firm
temporarily couldn't get to the records.

What prompted the lock-up? Shields claimed she wanted to protect the
papers. But she offered no evidence that they were in danger of being
destroyed or stolen.

Before taking action, Shields should have explained her reasoning to
county legislators. She didn't, leading to public criticism from
legislators Ron Finley and Henry Rizzo.

Jackson County taxpayers deserve an exhaustive report on COMBAT
spending. The auditors should be allowed unfettered access to
information about the anti-drug tax.