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INDEPENDENCE LOSES SOME DARE FUNDS

The Jackson County COMBAT Com mission has approved a recommended budget of $1.15 million for DARE programs in 2001-02, a reduction of about 11 percent.  Independence will take a 20 percent cut in funding for the program aimed at keeping children off drugs.

The reduction reflects a decrease in revenue from Jackson County's anti-drug tax, said COMBAT program administrator Jim Nunnelly.

Dennea Leap, in the Independence police fiscal unit, said the department has been aware of possible COMBAT budget cuts and is reviewing options.

The cuts will be taken from DARE D Drug Abuse Resistance Education D programs in both Independence and Kansas City, the two largest programs in the county.  Each will lose 20 percent of its funds.  Independence will receive $267,276, down from $334,095 last year.

Funding for the seven other law enforcement agencies remains level, including Blue Springs, $146,009; Grain Valley, $20,373; the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, $79,277; and Oak Grove, $20,373.

Kansas City and Independence were selected for the cuts because they are "more able to absorb the loss to their budgets," Nunnelly said.  This solution also addresses concerns about equity of funding among urban, suburban and rural areas.  COMBAT programs devote a great deal more re sources to Kansas City than to Eastern Jackson County, Nunnelly said, a situation the commission has sought to rectify.

DARE programs represent only a small portion of the total $19 million COMBAT budget but are visible because of their penetration within local school systems.

County Prosecutor Bob Beaird said plans are under way to add a parental education portion to the program.

"We all know this is a long road," to keep kids off drugs, Beaird said.  "There is no one else with a better position or opportunity to monitor kids on a long-term basis than their parents.  We want to give them the education and the information they need to recognize a drug problem and seek help."

The DARE program also remains popular with law enforcement.  Sgt.  Robert Muenz, supervisor of the program in Oak Grove, said his department hopes to expand to the high school level.

"If you can prevent one child from becoming a substance abuser, then I think you have made progress," Muenz said.