So, Jackson County isn't winning the war against drugs? You're kidding?

Hey, despite the fact (I've heard) that drugs are just as easy to get as they ever were doesn't mean that you should stop paying taxes to ensure that more poor people and minorities are put behind bars.

To wit, Mike Sanders is very smartly working to reorganize Jackson County's COMBAT program so it won't seem like yet another outdated County initiative when it comes time to vote on the thing again:

Jackson County should reorganize its 18-year-old COMBAT anti-drug program, appoint a director and replace the program’s existing commission, a panel recommended Monday.

The COMBAT Review Committee released a report to the Jackson County Legislature that says the sales-tax-supported program lacks focus, is sometimes inefficient and is not well understood.

County Executive Mike Sanders appointed the eight-member committee of community leaders in February to review the COMBAT program, which is funded from a quarter-cent sales tax that raises $14 million to $18 million annually. The tax, first approved in 1989, is subject to renewal every seven years and is due for voter action again in 2010.

Politically, it's an extremely savvy move given that over the history of the program the drug problem in Jackson County has become worse, then slightly better and now just about the same as always (as of late) only with more tooth decay because of Meth.