Combatting COMBAT

Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields and County Prosecutor Mike Sanders seem to have gotten themselves into a political brawl over control of money from COMBAT, the county’s unique anti-drug tax. Accusations are flying around the county court house, and Sanders is calling for an audit of the millions of dollars raised by the tax annually. Law enforcement agencies resent the amount of money being spent on treatment and prevention, while treatment providers compete intensely for drug rehab contracts.

• KMBC-TV 9′s Micheal Mahoney: Prosecutor wants audut of COMBAT tax (with RealPlayer video)
• Independence Examiner: Officials spar over COMBAT audit plans
• KC Star’s Barbara Shelly: Let’s look under this circus tent (free registration requried)