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 bwilliams@kcstar.com.

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.