AUDIT OF ANTI-DRUG TAX PROGRAM URGED

Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders on Thursday called for an
independent audit of the county's anti-drug sales tax program because its
revenues are expected to decrease this year.

The quarter-cent Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax, also known as COMBAT, is
expected to generate about $19.5 million this year to fund law enforcement,
drug treatment and drug prevention programs. Voters renewed the tax last year.

A seven-member COMBAT Commission oversees the programs, and the Jackson
County Legislature appropriates money for the programs. Two COMBAT
commissioners Thursday said they would agree to an audit. Other
commissioners did not return telephone calls.

Sanders said that if the commission and Legislature doesn't approve an
audit, his office will pay for one.

"It is imperative that this audit be conducted by an entity that is wholly
unconnected to COMBAT, Jackson County or any of its officials to ensure the
integrity of the process," Sanders said in a statement he read during the
commission meeting Thursday.

Sanders, a nonvoting member of the commission, suggested that the state
auditor's office conduct the audit. He did not know how much the audit
would cost.

Sanders said the audit is needed because county financial officials predict
that COMBAT revenues will drop this year. Those projections prompted COMBAT
officials to reduce funding to some programs.

For example, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) took a 15 percent cut
compared with 2003's funding. Police officers at Thursday's meeting said
the cuts would cause reductions in DARE officers and in the number of
schools that the program serves.

Commissioner Darrell Curls said he supports the audit.

"It's probably something that should be done," Curls said.

Commissioner Nancy Seelen said she wouldn't oppose an audit, but added that
COMBAT has a county legislative auditor assigned to it and undergoes annual
external audits.

"If Mr. Sanders believes it is necessary to engage another auditor at
taxpayer expense, I would have no objection," Seelen said.

Commissioners are appointed by County Executive Katheryn Shields, who
issued a statement favoring the audit.

"We do that (audit COMBAT) every year anyway," Shields said. "I think a
financial audit would be great."

Commissioners also received a Jackson County Legislature resolution calling
for a state audit of COMBAT. The resolution listed Henry Rizzo, a
legislator, as its sponsor, but Rizzo said he didn't authorize it.

"I'm shocked and amazed that this was distributed without my permission,"
Rizzo said.

Rizzo said he would try to determine who sent the resolution.

COMBAT's executive director, Vicki Boyd, said the resolution had been faxed
to her office.

Also on Thursday, commission chairwoman Sue LeVota resigned. LeVota said
she was leaving the commission for a full-time volunteer coordinator
position at Powell Gardens.