Why I’m voting no on renewing the COMBAT tax

It’s no secret I’m a liberal.  As such, I tend to vote for any tax increase put in front of me   But I will be voting against the COMBAT half cent anti-drug sales tax in Jackson County.

Gone Mild has an excellent summary that mirrors my concerns very closely. Briefly, the problem is that COMBAT is a great idea that has lost its focus. It is managed by convicted criminals, the county government is no trustworthy, and the money is doled out to many groups with questionable relevance yet a strong sense of entitlement.  Finally COMBAT continues the failed “war on drugs” mentality that needs to be replaced with a more approach that shifts the emphasis away from law enforcement and towards a public health model that includes prevention and treatment.

The election is Tuesday November, 2nd for Jackson County residents.  The current tax doesn’t expire for more than a year, so it’s OK to vote today tomorrow in order to send a message to the county government.  There is still plenty of time to fix COMBAT’s problems and come back to voters with a better plan.

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