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Mark your Calendars
The Raytown Democrat Association will conduct an open Townhall Forum
THE TOPICThe April 2nd Sales Taxto fund a new Baseball Stadiumin Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE VOTE NO POSITIONFormer Kansas City Councilwoman, Becky Nace
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE VOTE YES POSITION. . . to be announced . . .
at the Breakfast and Lunch Lovers Restaurant
6230 Raytown TrafficwayRaytown, MO 64133
Thursday, March 21, 20246:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Guest speakers representing the the "pro" and "con" positions on the proposedwill be on hand to discussDowntown Stadium Kansas City Sales Taxto be decided by voters on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
CANINE SAREN
NEWS FLASH!!!The fine looking beast shown on the left is going to work for the Raytown Police Department.
Officially, his name is Canine Saren.
He is a 3 1/2 year old Belgian Malinois. And, he comes with human (who is also Saren's Trainer).
This will add another certified officer and police dog to Raytown's Police Force. Both come with police experience and will be on the streets in Raytown soon.
Raytown Police Chief Robert Kuehl had more good news for the City. He announced that there are three new officers currently undergoing training at the Police Academy.
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Enforcement of laws on Expired License
Plates in Raytown should be ramped up.
Plates in Raytown should be ramped up.
BY GREG WALTERS
One of the complaints I hear most frequently from constituents is the number of license plates
(temporary or expired) on vehicles driving on Raytown Streets.
Here are some interesting facts I found that show how bad the problem really is.
FROM THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE . . .
The Missouri Department of Revenue is owed more than $78
million in delinquent temporary automobile license tag fees. The Department reports nearly 60,000
temporary permits are overdue.
FROM AREA NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS . . .
The
following law enforcement agencies are cracking down on expired license plate
tags and temporary tags.
Northland Police Departments recently teamed up with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department to crack down on people driving with expired
license plates and tags. The Kansas City Police Department reported the group effort confiscated 63 temporary tags and 23 license plates
while handing out 271 citations in an eight hour span.
The following law enforcement agencies were
active in the crackdown.
- Kansas City, Missouri Police Department
- Independence, Missouri Police Department
- Platte Woods Police
- Clay County Sheriff’s Office
- Platte County Sheriff’s Office
- Missouri Highway Patrol
- Missouri Depart. of Revenue (Compliance and Investigation Bureau)
Why Not Raytown?
This lack of enforcement has repercussions that
are not good for Raytown. If a car is not properly licensed it is doubtful it has
had a safety inspection. It also creates a difficult situation for Police to
investigate crimes. Particularly if an improperly licensed vehicle is used to commit a crime.
And yes, those temporary tags can easily be counterfeited and frequently are.
Another impact is the loss of tax revenue. When a car is not licensed properly it is very doubtful the Personal Property Tax on the vehicle has been paid.
Most car owners in Raytown pay their share of Personal Property Taxes. These same people properly license their automobiles. How about everyone paying their fair share in license fees and Personal Property Tax?
The Missouri Department of Revenue reports a loss of $78 Million Dollars in tax revenue because of the lack of enforcement. No doubt some of that money would end up in Raytown’s General Fund if we were to follow the lead of surrounding communities and step up enforcement of our local laws on the proper licensing of vehicles in Raytown.
The fine for driving with expired plates comes close to $100 in a Fourth Class City in Missouri. Those fines, coupled with revenue from the Personal Property Taxes people are required to pay on their vehicles and other personal property (automobiles, motorcycles, boats, motor homes, etc.), could help extend our city's street repair program.
Raising everyone's taxes to make up the shortfall of scofflaws who believe they are above the law and do not have pay their fair share is not a solution.
Raytowners have already been buried in historically high property tax increases this year. Ignoring scofflaws who refuse to license their vehicles and pay their Personal and Real Property Tax in a timely manner is not a solution.
Proper enforcement of our City and State laws is the solution.
Raytown should join surrounding cities like Kansas City and Independence in stepping up enforcement on expired temporary license tags.
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GREG WALTERS
One of our regular contributors to the Raytown Report saw the following news story broadcast KCTV5 earlier this week. Senior homeowners in Jackson County, Missouri, can now apply for a new property tax credit program that freezes their bills.
Jackson County, Missouri officials announced on Monday, March 4, that the State of Missouri has launched to assist those eligible with property tax payments on their home. The program was authorized by Senate Bill 190 and freezes property tax bills for those approved for the program.
Senior Homeowners in Jackson County
eligible for new Property Tax Program
By Sarah Motter / KCTV5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) -
Senior homeowners in Jackson County, Missouri, can now apply for a new property
tax credit program that freezes their bills.
Jackson County, Missouri officials announced on Monday, March 4, that the State of Missouri has launched to assist those eligible with property tax
payments on their home. The program was authorized by Senate Bill 190 and
freezes property tax bills for those approved for the program.
Applications for the
program have been made available and those approved in 2024 will see the tax
credit benefit on their bill in 2025.
According to a statement published by Jackson County, Missouri “Jackson County is
dedicated to supporting the well-being of our senior residents, enriching their
overall quality of life. This
initiative offers significant benefits, ensuring financial relief and stability
for eligible individuals. We encourage qualified residents to take advantage of
the opportunity presented by this valuable program.”
County officials also said
the bill established guidelines for the county program, which include:
- Eligibility Criteria - The
program is available to Jackson County residents eligible for Social
Security retirement benefits and meet specific property ownership
requirements.
- Tax Credit Amount - The year an
application is approved sets the base amount for the property tax bill
freeze. This will be the amount the resident will pay moving forward.
- One Primary Residence -
Applicants can only claim one primary home which must be occupied by the
eligible resident.
- Market Value Maximum - The
market value of the property must be less than $550,000 to be eligible for
the program by a law passed by the Jackson County legislature.
Officials said all
applications and supporting documents will be due by Dec. 31 each year - online
and in-person. Applicants will need to submit a new application each year.
Renewal applications are due by Aug. 31 each year.
Applications can be found
HERE. Copies will also be available at both Collection Department locations at
the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown Kansas City and the Historic Truman
Courthouse in Independence.
For more information about
the application process, click HERE.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from KCTV5.
Originally published Mar. 4, 2024 at 1:10 PM CST|Updated: Mar. 5, 2024
at 12:48 PM CST
Originally published Mar. 4, 2024 at 1:10 PM CST|Updated: Mar. 5, 2024 at 12:48 PM CST
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BY GREG WALTERS |