On Nov. 3, every voter in Jackson County, Missouri, will face a single question on the ballot: should the county continue the Community‑Backed Anti‑Crime Tax, known as COMBAT, at its current rate of one‑quarter of one cent for the next ten years? A “yes” vote extends the dedicated public‑safety fund through March 31, 2037; a “no” vote lets the tax expire on March 31, 2027.
What COMBAT Does
First approved by voters in 1989 during the crack‑cocaine epidemic, COMBAT was created to raise a dedicated sales‑tax revenue stream for fighting drug‑related crime. Since then the tax has been renewed four times—1995, 2003, 2009 and 2016—each by wide margins. In 2009 the measure was expanded to address violent crime as well.
According to the COMBAT 2025 impact report, more than 60 % of the money collected goes directly to law‑enforcement, prosecution, courts and corrections. The remainder is distributed as grants to over 100 local nonprofit programs that provide addiction treatment, violence‑prevention education, school‑based initiatives such as D.A.R.E., and community resource hubs. Administration costs are limited to about 4 % of the fund.
From 2021 through 2025 the tax generated an average of $31.3 million per year, providing roughly $30 million annually for the county’s public‑safety operations. Without that funding, officials warn that “cycles of crime and addiction would spiral out of control.”
Oversight Improvements
Past audits uncovered mismanagement of COMBAT funds under former county executives Mike Sanders and Frank White Jr. In response, oversight was moved from the county executive’s office to the county prosecutor in 2018. Since then, additional checks have been added. County Legislator Jalen Anderson told a recent legislature meeting that every expenditure now must be acknowledged by both the COMBAT director and the prosecutor, reviewed by COMBAT staff, outside reviewers and the COMBAT commission before reaching the legislature for final approval.
COMBAT Executive Director Murray Woodard II called the tax “the county’s largest pool of dedicated public‑safety funds,” noting that it supports “the entire continuum of public safety,” from prevention and treatment to investigation and prosecution.
What a “No” Vote Means
If voters reject the renewal, the tax will cease collection after March 31, 2027, and the county will lose the roughly $30 million a year that currently funds police, courts, treatment and prevention programs. The loss would force the county to rely on general‑fund allocations or cut services, potentially jeopardizing public‑safety initiatives that have shown measurable results.
How the Tax Works
The COMBAT tax adds 0.25 % to every taxable purchase in the county. In practical terms, a $10 purchase adds 2.5 cents, a $100 purchase adds 25 cents, and a $1,000 purchase adds $2.50. The tax is collected from all shoppers in the county, not just residents, and is layered on top of state, county and city sales taxes.
Key Takeaways for Voters
- Renewal keeps a dedicated $30 million‑plus annual funding stream for police, courts, treatment and prevention.
- Recent reforms have tightened oversight, adding multiple layers of review before any spending is approved.
- Opponents cite past mismanagement, but those issues have been addressed through structural changes.
- A “yes” vote extends the tax for ten years; a “no” vote ends it in 2027.
Jackson County voters are encouraged to review the COMBAT 2025 impact report and consider how the tax aligns with their priorities for safer neighborhoods, stronger families and responsible stewardship of public funds.
Original reporting: The Beacon (Kansas City) — read the source article.
