Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Combat Public Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jackson County Legislature approves $500,000 for COMBAT public education campaign after hours of testimony
Summary
After extensive public testimony from service providers and debate over procurement, the Jackson County Legislature adopted Ordinance 6104 as amended to appropriate funds for an educational campaign about COMBAT and authorize a contract with TJP Strategies LLC with an education-only scope and a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000.
The Jackson County Legislature voted to adopt Ordinance 6104 on July 20, 2026, authorizing county funds to support a public education campaign about the COMBAT public-safety sales tax and permitting the county to contract with TJP Strategies LLC. The ordinance had been amended on the floor to reduce the requested not-to-exceed amount from $1,000,000 to $500,000 before final passage.
Supporters from a broad set of community providers urged the legislature to approve the educational campaign so voters would receive factual information about COMBAT programs. Lisa Meisel, president and CEO of the Child Protection Center, told the legislature: "Without the combat support, we couldn't offer the services that we do to serve the children that are physically, ******** abused, witnessed a violent crime within the city or the county." Other speakers — including youth program leaders, recovery housing providers and domestic-violence service directors — described client counts, prevention outcomes and how COMBAT funding enables services.
Legislators pressed prosecutors and staff on procurement details and the vendor selection process. The prosecutor's office and COMBAT staff said they solicited multiple bids and that the contract language had been revised to limit work to education and information rather than advocacy. Prosecutor Johnson said the office had reviewed legal boundaries and worked to ensure the contract would withstand statutory scrutiny.
Opponents and skeptical legislators raised questions about whether the county followed standard procurement channels and whether campaign ties to consulting firms created conflicts. The legislature considered but rejected a motion to hold the ordinance pending more documentation; the hold failed and the floor amendment to reduce the appropriation passed by roll call. The ordinance was perfected and subsequently adopted by recorded votes (perfection and adoption votes recorded in the legislative minutes). The county executive and prosecuting attorney described controls in the contract and said unused funds would return to COMBAT reserves.
