IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing the creation of the Jackson County COMBAT program on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21254, April 24, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Donna Peyton, DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer, and Sean E. Smith, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, in 1989 the Jackson County Legislature declared a “violent health epidemic” and, that same year, the voters of Jackson County made history by passing the nation’s first-ever tax dedicated to addressing the drug and crime crisis; and,
WHEREAS, while this tax increased support for law enforcement, it also resulted in new prevention and treatment programs, setting Jackson County apart from most other communities across the country that concentrated exclusively on more policing; and,
WHEREAS, this unique, comprehensive approach to reducing drug abuse and crime coalesced in the spring of 1993 through the formation of a new administrative office called COMBAT, “Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax,” tasked with providing direction to and encouraging collaboration among all funded agencies; and,
WHEREAS, COMBAT has for 30 years shifted the paradigm of the so-called “War On Drugs,” from just fighting drugs and crime to helping people through supporting dozens of community programs annually and through introducing innovative initiatives, such as assisting crime survivors or diverting those with substance use disorders away from prosecution and into treatment through a nationally emulated Drug Court; and,
WHEREAS, COMBAT has expanded its data-driven Striving Together to Reduce Violence in Neighborhoods (STRIVIN’) initiative into five different neighborhoods throughout Jackson County and created an innovative online social services referral program through which police, school administrators, social workers, faith-based leaders, elected officials, and concerned citizens can connect individuals and families to life-changing, even life-saving assistance; and,
WHEREAS, COMBAT provides essential resources and leadership in Jackson County that are not available in most other communities, in an ongoing and unwavering effort to reduce drug abuse and violent crime; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature recognizes and commends COMBAT, from one of its first and its longest serving administrators, Jim Nunnelly, to his successor Dr. Stacey Daniels Young, current Executive Director Vince Ortega, all COMBAT staff and all the agencies who have partnered with COMBAT for their dedication to serving the community in the past, present and future; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Legislature recognizes and appreciates the people of Jackson County, who have four times voted to extend the anti-crime tax by overwhelming margins ranging from 64% to 73%, for their ongoing support as new challenges arise, demonstrating how essential COMBAT is in 2023 and beyond.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ______________________________
Chief Deputy County Counselor County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21254 of April 24, 2023, was duly passed on April 24, 2023 by the Jackson County Legislature. The voters thereon were as follows:
Yeas _____9______ Nays ____0_______
Abstaining ___0____ Absent ____0_____
______________________________ ______________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature