Jackson County COMBAT Tax Never Worked To Reduce Crime

Once again we're confronted with PROOF that big bucks never really works to create peace on violent local streets.

Check the numbers . . .

COMBAT money is raised by a 0.25% sales tax that was approved by county voters in 1989 in response to rampant crime during the crack cocaine epidemic. It’s the only program of its kind at a county level, and has been approved by voters three times since its inception. For the past decade, the fund has raised more than $20 million each year.

But what looks like success  . . .  Isn’t necessarily reflected in Kansas City’s homicide numbers. And COMBAT’s finances have come into question in the past.

Since 2013, the city has had only one year with fewer than 100 homicides — 2014 had 79, the lowest total since 1972, according to the Kansas City Star.

In the last three years, Kansas City’s homicide totals were all more than 150, with 2020 being the deadliest year on record, at 182.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

For 30 years, a Jackson County tax has funded anti-crime efforts. Its success is hard to measure

Jackson County's Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax, or COMBAT, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The first-of-its-kind program has been lauded for its contributions to crime reduction. But, with gun deaths climbing each year, it's challenging to measure whether the money makes a difference.