Monday, March 4, 2024

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Mark your Calendars

The Raytown Democrat Association 
will conduct an open Townhall Forum

THE TOPIC
The April 2nd Sales Tax
to fund a new Baseball Stadium
in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri 

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE VOTE NO POSITION
Former 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 Trafficway
Raytown, MO 64133

Thursday, March 21, 2024
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 

Guest speakers representing the 
the "pro" and "con" positions on the proposed
will be on hand to discuss
Downtown Stadium Kansas City Sales Tax
to 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. 

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

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BY GREG WALTERS

"Xóchitl"
DEBUTS AT SAINT REGIS
"Xóchitl" is from the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs in Central Mexico. 

The word means "flower". The dance group is made up entirely of women from Saint John Francis Parish located just south of Raytown at 8941 James A. Reed Road in Kansas City, Missouri.

The members of the dance group (pictured on the left) design and create their own dresses. The show they perform is amazing with singing and group dancing that is a pleasure to observe. 
With colors, smiles, and exotic dancing set to mariachi songs they captivated the audience.

Their hope is to continue sharing their heritage with the community and to show young ladies the beauty of the Mexican folklore and the richness of their traditions.


Their next performance is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th  at  Feast of St. John Francis Regis, at 4:00 p.m.
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Friday, February 16, 2024

Truth Watch Returns!

BY TRUTH WATCH
Hello readers. Some of you may remember me. I used to write a column for the Raytown Report named “Truth Watch”.

Last week I saw a post by Raytown’s very own Ward 3 Alderman, Ryan Myers. He was responding to other posts that were published on Raytown Unleashed. The author of one of those posts said Walmart does not pay any taxes in Raytown. Thank goodness Ryan saw the post and corrected the writer!

Alderman Myers wrote, “Walmart paid nearly half a million dollars in property tax for 2023. That figure does not include the personal property tax paid.”

I wondered if Ryan was being totally honest with his explanation. The part I found baffling was why didn’t he publish the figure Walmart paid in property taxes?

The fact that he did not use whole numbers but prefaced his dollar amount on property tax as “nearly half a million dollars” makes me wonder, “Why the parsing of words on the amount he wrote of as a fact?

Ryan also left out that Walmart does not pay ANY personal property tax on the merchandise on its shelves.

That is because Walmart does not own the “merchandise” on their store shelves.

The retail items on the shelves at a Walmart are not owned by Walmart. Therefore Walmart is not responsible for “personal property tax” on those items.

Which means Walmart pays very little (if any) Business Personal Property Tax on the retail items on their shelves for the public to purchase. Hope this information clears up the question.

Alderman Myers should be more generous in his explanations. Terms like “somewhere around half a million dollars” is pure conjecture. Indicating the retail giant pays Business Personal Property Tax when, in fact, they do not, is clearly misleading, if not dishonest.

It is also important to remember that Walmart is located where it is because of a Taxpayer paid TIF (Tax Increment Financing). This TIF  requires sales tax revenue collected by the retail giant be paid by shoppers when they make their purchases. The sales tax from those purchases is then used to pay the debt to create the shopping center in which they are shopping.

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Why Not Raytown?

BY GREG WALTERS
One of our regular contributors came across the following press release from the Independence Police Department (IPD). The release notifies the public the IPD will be ramping up a program of enforcement on expired temporary tags in their city. Kansas City, Missouri and Gladstone, Missouri have both initiated similar programs for their cities.

We regularly receive complaints from Raytown homeowners about the outrageous amount of expired temporary tags being used by automobile owners in Raytown. 

That's not to say all of those cars are owned in Raytown. After all, our city is only two miles wide. But it does show the need for Raytown to join in the effort in correcting the problem.

Raytown should join Kansas City and Independence in a unified front of enforcement to make sure everyone is paying their fair share of tax dollars. To ignore the problem would be counterproductive to solid governmental practices.

Up until this point only two cities in the metropolitan area (on the Missouri side) have ramped up enforcement on scofflaws who believe they do not have to pay their fair share in taxes.

Both Kansas City and Gladstone have discovered an increase in the number of outstanding warrants they have been able to enforce through the traffic stops. This bonanza of revenue could be earmarked for Raytown's most pressing problem - the repair and upkeep of our neighborhood streets. 


For Immediate Release
FROM THE INDEPENDENCE MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Due to the large number of expired tags and license plates, the Independence Police Department will begin a zero tolerance enforcement campaign during the last week in February.

We encourage everyone to help do their part and get their vehicle license current and valid insurance before that time. Expired temp tags and license plates are one of the most common complaints we hear from citizens.

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Saturday, February 3, 2024

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs
on their repeat as Super Bowl Champions!

UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE EXCITING GAMES
WE HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF WATCHING.

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A little over two weeks ago we received the following blog on the Back Pages of the Raytown Report.

Blogger Chris Inlow wrote . . .

Greg,

You stated the reasons why this logo is bad, for which I agree. But what do you think the new logo should be? What colors should it be? What should it have on it?


Very respectfully,

Chris Inlow

January 19, 2024 at 12:28 PM

Battle of the Flags Continues
A municipal flag should easily be identified as to what it represents. For that simple reason we have placed the City’s name as the dominant language at the top of the flag. The type underneath the flag shows the City can trace its roots back to 1858. It shows Raytown was incorporated in 1950.

It is proof positive that Raytowns history as a community currently spans 166 years.

The symbolism of the anvil and the outline of a black smith in the act of striking the anvil shows the city’s roots go back to when Raytown was a destination on the Santa Fe Trail.

On the national level, this has proven to be a well worn path. Two of the most recognizable flags in our world are the United Kingdom’s “Union Jack”, and the United States “Star Spangled Banner”. 

The Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom).

The American Flag became known as the Star Spangled Banner after Francis Scott Key saw a bombardment of Fort McHenry by English ships during the War of 1812.

In 1818 Congress enacted the third and last Flag Resolution, requiring the 13 stripes symbolized the original 13 colonies. The number of stars should always match the number of states, and any new star should be added on the July 4 following a state’s admission.

This has been the system ever since. The last two states to be added to the flag came about in 1959 when Hawaii and Alaska became our 49th and 50th States.

Both flags are unique. Each tells a unique story of the history of the country they represent. Raytown’s flag should do as much.

So, without any further ado, here is our suggestion for a new flag for Raytown, Missouri.

OUR THOUGHTS . . .

The most important part of any symbol of a community is that it tells a story. The symbols used on the flag shown at right are unique to Raytown.

The opening of the Santa Fe Trail increased the number of people coming into the area.  Raytown had become an important point for settlers and adventurers heading west. Cattle, oxen, fruits and vegetables were purchased from the farmers already in the area. Soon blacksmiths, wagon makers and iron workers were coming from the east to add their much needed skills to the growing number of wagon trains. 

As more and more travelers pushed westward along the Santa Fe and Oregon trails, pioneers, predominantly from Kentucky and Virginia, began to settle in numbers.

They discovered an area of high wooded ridges that reminded them of the shrouded Blue Ridge Mountains of their former homes. They named the land Blue Ridge, and the adjoining streams, the Big Blue and Little Blue Rivers.

Several tradesmen set up businesses along the trail. William Ray, born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1808, was a blacksmith who moved to Jackson County around 1848 and established his shop on the Santa Fe Trail.

Ray’s blacksmith shop was located at a crossroads where the Santa Fe Trail was crossed by other important trails. It became a meeting and gather place for pioneers to continue their trek to the west. 

By 1850, William Ray’s blacksmith shop was well established on what is now the intersection of 63rd & Raytown Road. He purchased the seven acres of land for $72.16.

William Ray’s shop, therefore, became a geographic landmark and is mentioned twenty-seven times in the next fourteen months of county court proceedings. William Ray himself appears to have been somewhat of celebrity. By 1854, his neighbors were referring to the town as “Ray’s Town,” and eventually, “Raytown.”

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Thursday, December 21, 2023


BREAKING NEWS . . .
BY GREG WALTERS
Finally . . . some good news for Jackson County Property Taxpayers. A storm of Press Releases from the Missouri State Auditor, the Missouri State Tax Commission and now, from the Missouri State Attorney General's office has clearly shown there has been negligence on the part of the Jackson County Assessor's Department in the handling of re-assessment of property in Jackson County.
 

The following Press Release from the Office of Missouri State Attorney General Andrew Bailey shows how serious the state is taking the allegations of mishandling of the Jackson County Assessment Office has been. 

The majority of the Raytown Board of Aldermen deserve recognition for stepping up with six other elected governmental bodies in calling out the unfairness of Jackson County's reassessment process. 

Those five governmental entities are: Raytown, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Grain Valley and the Jackson County Legislature. 

HOW THEY VOTED: Following is how your Raytown Board Board of Aldermen voted on the question of whether or not to speak out against the assessment process is Jackson County.

YES:         Greg Walters, Theresa Garza, Bill VanBuskirk, Jim Aziere, Loretha Hayden

NO:           Ryan Myers, Bonnaye Mims, Diane Krizek, Janet Emerson
ABSENT:  Ian Scott


Use this link to view the . . . PROPERTY TAX LAWSUIT

Attorney General Bailey Files Suit
Against Jackson County Tax Assessor 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 19, 2023


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed suit alongside the State Tax Commission against Jackson County for its failure to follow the law in assessing and levying taxes.  The lawsuit alleges Jackson County caused significant economic harm to residents when it dramatically and illegally increased property owner’s assessments which resulted in undue taxes. Attorney General Bailey’s lawsuit asserts that county officials violated state law when they failed to give timely and proper notice of assessments, failed to perform the required physical inspections of certain property, and handled appeals of their property assessments in an illegal and dysfunctional manner.


“I will always fight for Missourians who are being over-taxed, especially in Joe Biden’s economy where everyone’s wallet is stretched thin,” said Attorney General Bailey.  “The Missouri Constitution expressly prohibits a county from illegally taxing its residents. We will stand in the gap to protect Jackson County residents and right this egregious wrong.”

In his lawsuit, General Bailey asserts that assessment notices were delivered past the legally mandated June 15th deadline, and that required physical inspections were not performed. Article X, Section 22 of the Missouri Constitution prohibits counties from levying any tax, license or fees not authorized by law. Attorney General Bailey notes the State has an interest in ensuring the State’s tax levying and collection process is legally carried out and Missouri citizens are not harmed by the imposition of undue assessments and the associated tax burdens.

His lawsuit alleges that Jackson County’s illegal actions resulted in an average assessed value increase of at least 30 percent across the board. Some Jackson County property owners reported increases in excess of 100 percent. “As a result, Defendants have subjected Jackson County property owners to undue taxation based on illegally increased assessment values without the opportunity to take advantage of the statutorily provided administrative remedies,” the lawsuit states.

Attorney General Bailey notes that complaints from Jackson County residents have poured into the Attorney General’s Office. General Bailey said, “We’re glad Jackson County residents came forward to let us know how they were adversely affected by this illegal behavior. We encourage all Missourians to reach out when they need help. We will always have Missourians’ backs.”

The Attorney General’s Office notes that affected Jackson County residents should pay their taxes due December 31 under protest and then plan to pursue remedies available to them by law.

Use this link to view the . . . PROPERTY TAX LAWSUIT

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Thursday, December 14, 2023

BREAKING NEWS

The Raytown School Board has called a special meeting tomorrow night December 19th at 5:30 PM.

The meeting is at the district's administration office 6608 Raytown Road.

This special meeting is called to address the Vice President of the Board's assault on a teacher.

The meeting can also be viewed on a live link a live on the School District's website.

The teacher's union has been outraged by this unacceptable behavior and as reported on local news calling upon the general public to speak up to the board members to make sure this issue is resolved for the safety of all parts.


We are back!

BY GREG WALTERS
From messages we have received on what we call the “Back Pages” (blog section) of the Raytown Report, we see that some have wondered why we have not published in the last week.

The truth is always the best response . . . so here it is. We took a week off to go visit my sister and her husband in Florida. It was a good time. As with all trips, Mecee and I took some fine photos which we will share with you here.


On a trip to the Everglades we had the pleasure of meeting one of the local celebrities. There were a number of them. This particular alligator was named "Charlie".

PHOTOS BY MECEE WALTERS





As with all trips there is going to be some "down time". Shortly after arriving at my sister's home in Estero, Florida (about 20 minutes south of Fort Myers, Florida), we settled into our home for the week and rested after two long flights from Kansas City to Estero.

Ever the artist, Mecee took a few minutes and presented me with a self portrait she created upon our arrival.

I consider it a fine gift. Most suitable for framing!




Raytown School Board Vice President Michael Watson charged with “non-injury assault” for altercation with school teacher

School Board Vice President Michael Watson stated he was visiting with the teacher of his child when the alleged incident took place. Watson was charged with “non-injury assault” according to information received from the Raytown Police Department.

To view the complete story use the following link provided by Fox 4 News:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9tWLYMxwDQ


Raytowners eligible to participate
in Toxic Waste Collection Program
The Raytown Board of Aldermen has approved the City of Raytown to become an active member of the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Hazardous Waste Program effective January 1, 2024.

Membership in the program provides residents year-round access to permanent facilities in Kansas City and Lee’s Summit and at multiple mobile collection events.

Materials accepted for safe disposal include paint and paint-related products, automotive fluids, batteries, lawn and garden chemicals, house cleaners, fluorescent bulbs and other items such as polish, bug spray and oven cleaners.

A local Raytown resident, Janette Gentry, has been at the forefront of bringing this service to the City of Raytown.

During the meeting, Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters credited Gentry with addressing the Board on the need of joining the MARC Hazardous Waste Program on at least three occasions before the Board.

“I could tell the representative from MARC is well aware of Janette’s efforts over the years,” said Walters.

“Her hard work of bringing this important issue before the Board of Aldermen has finally paid off,” Walters continued. “I am certain Ms. Gentry is smiling tonight for a job well done!”

All Raytown residents are eligible to participate in the program without cost.

For more information contact the Mid America Regional Council at (816) 474-4240.