The Future of the Raytown Report
The extremely high number of page loads, visitors and posters on this page has shown there is a real need for this blog in Raytown. With that in mind I am pleased to announce that I am taking in some partners to help cover the goings on at Raytown City Hall. Since I am no longer a member of that body my photograph will no longer be shown on the front page. Instead, the blog will continue as a group effort of three individuals who have chosen not to announce their identities at this time.
Kansas City Star Ranks Raytown Second Highest in Sales Tax
When voters in Raytown approved the half cent sales tax hike last Tuesday they raised Raytown’s status to a new level in the metropolitan area. According to the lead editorial in the Star, Raytown’s sales tax (effective, October 1) will be 8.1%. The rate is second only to Belton which posted a sales tax of 8.225%.
In special taxing districts Raytown places first with the new Walmart under development on 350 Highway (for a sample of that tax rate. That tax rate will top out at 9.6% when the store opens. According to City Finance Director Jeremy Wilmoth, the tax could grow another one percent if the city approves a special Transportation Tax District to pay for improvements on 350 Highway and construction of an intermodal bus station for the Area Transportation Authority. If Mr. Wilmoth is correct, that could raise the rate well over the 10% benchmark.
Which leaves the question, will people shop at a store knowing that every dollar they spend will cost an additional 10 cents?
The downside is that since this is a special tax district, most of the sales tax collected does not go to the city’s coffers but to pay off the debt created to pay for the new store, parking lot, etc., etc.
The payment of that debt is set to expire in 23 years.
Changes . . .
Former candidate for Ward 2 Alderman, Justin Tomac, made an interesting observation. He told of going door to door and repeatedly hearing how people wanted “change” in city government. Justin, who is real straight forward type of guy, asked the next sensible question.
“What do you want change?”
As a rule, his question was met with bewilderment and a loss of words.
Before filing for Alderman this year I wondered the same thing myself. The country had just come off an historic election in which the central theme was “change”. The voters had pretty much bought the campaign sloganeering hook, line and sinker. I wondered how much of this would carry over to the municipal election. A new segment of the population, the younger voter, had been empowered. Anyone tapping their angst and frustration would find fertile ground for votes.
I also knew that I could expect a dirty campaign from my opponents. This was nothing new. The opposition, if they mounted a serious campaign, always went below the belt.
Another concern, the electorate had changed. I knew that after 27 years of service many of those who helped elect me in when I was 25 years old had either moved on or passed on. My political base was shrinking.
Those that knew I was responsible for the sidewalks serving Blue Ridge Elementary, the sidewalks that stretch from the northern city limits to 350 Highway, literally hundreds of streetlights that make Ward 1 the best lit area in town, the countless storm sewer project that turned open storm drainage ditches into covered storm sewers, were all for a generation that was past.
The new generation wanted change. Last Tuesday they showed up in superior numbers to enact that change. The victory is theirs.
I am curious as to precinct results. I stood part of each day at three different polls. That section north of 63rd Street seemed to going my way -- as did the area south of 350 Highway. However, I was concerned for the middle section of the Ward. The turnout was definitely higher, and the impression I received was favorable at times but more often not so good. Precinct results are supposed to be released this coming Thursday from the Election Board.
One of Par-Due’s campaigners, (he actually acted more like a “handler” – but that is another story) was outwardly bragging that the younger voters were going to turn out in large numbers to win the election. As it turned out, he was correct.
So, as with all elections, the one with the most votes wins. I have had more than my share of victories (for those keeping count, 12 wins, 5 losses), so I have no complaint about losing. It happens. So all I can say is thank you to those who supported my campaign. Congratulations to my opponent. And hope for the best for Raytown.
Some have asked if I have any plans for the future. I will not rule out running for public office again. But for the time being, the role of private citizen sounds very appealing to me and my family. After all, 27 years is a long time for anyone in public service.
Comments
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As for sales taxes, I think the trend is towards sales tax rather than income or property taxes. If you listen to Peter Newman on KMBZ 980AM Saturdays 10AM-12N, Fairtax.org is advocating getting rid of the income tax and using a consumption tax. I haven't checked their site yet but this has been talked about for over 15 years that I have listened to Peter.
Andy Whiteman
What an eye-opener! Raytown is right on the way to be in a position to scream "We're Number One!" That right folks.
Right now we trail only one community in the metro area when it comes to paying the most sales tax on purchases we make in the town where we live.
Five years ago, were near the lower ranks of the list. If taxing yourself silly is the standard by which we decide whether or not we are No. 1, then we are almost there.
In fact, we will be there in a very short while when Walmart opens. Hope all of those who voted for the safety tax (whatever that means) will remember this when they pay another extra one percent more sales tax at that shopping center.
Is that all, you might ask. Not by any means, if the tranportation terminal some dreamers at city hall have been talking about becomes reality add up to another 1% to the grand total.
I know, I know. It's only 10 or 11 cents per dollar when all those tiny percentage points are added together. But, please, do not despair.
Just hold on for a couple more months until the school board begins its annual run for a budget busting property tax increase.
Not to worry, as Hennie Youngman used to say. It will be approved. It has to get approved. After all, there are a couple of pastures owned by the school district and they want to put artificial turf on them.
Artificial turf. The only place you ever see it is where the taxpayer is footing the bill. No private enterprise would support such idiocy.
Parsing out the different tax rates and ignoring the whole total is simpleton reasoning.
Why not include Raytown's sewer billing? It is one of the highest in the area too. Add on the outrageous property tax levy by the school district and you cannot deny Raytown is a high taxed town.
Sad thing is, it doesn't look like a high tax town. It's streets have been allowed to go to ruin. It's code department has a bad reputation for ignoring real eyesores and picking on senior citizens.
It seems we just pay Overland Park tax rates. We sure don't get the service.
Maybe the KC Star should do a survey on how much area cities doled out in raises this year.
I bet Raytown's 5.5% across the board increase led the pack.
Truck drivers are leaving their rigs in the lot. Sometimes running all night. The stink from the diesel and the noise is annoying.
Is this what we want 350 Highway to look like?
Raytown is becoming the dumping ground for these big rigs because other cities won't allow them in their town.
It's just like our town becoming a haven for smokers and pit bull owners.
Pretty glamorous image for out town.
Guess that's what they want up at city hall. Because that's what they are allowing.
Politics did get dirty in this election but, not as bad as in the past.
I have to hand it to the Raytown Post. They didn't print the lies and rumors
as the past owners of the post. The only dirty dealing I heard about was in the
Par-Due camp. That was the lies Mr. Joe Creamer sent to voters about
Greg Walters. Joe Creamer deserves no respect from the people of Raytown.
He showed his true colors when he lied, nothing he has to say should be believed
by the good people of Raytown. He has shown he will lie to get what he wants.
As far as any more tax increases, I hope that the people will wait to approve
any new taxes until they can finally see some kind of results for all they have
already passed. It's time the taxpayers got something in return for their money.
But, you know as well as I do, if a new tax comes up next election, and you know
It will, it will be passed. This town seems to like to give away money to big corporations
and the school district never seems to have enough money either.
As we saw in the past election, the one and only elected official that was for the
people and watched out for their best interest and how their tax dollars
were spent was voted out. They said he was a "roadblock to progress," when in really
he was a roadblock for taxation and spending.
So hold on to your billfold this could be a tuff two years.
I do see a lot of payday loans and title loan places, that's a sure sign of a city going down hill, who allowed that? I just adore the big yellow and red building at 350 and Raytown Rd.
As far as the pig and the pit bulls, you DO remember that mess, don't you or were you not there? The mess the board went through with that. You have also got to remember that meeting on the pit bulls where the chambers where full and all but 3 were against the ban I don't know how many voted for it, all in all I lost count. The residents voted that in, it's what they wanted or they would not have taken the time to come to the meeting. So who's fault is that? Not city hall or the council members....can you say residents?
I think the reason Raytown is going down the drain is because of rental properties. This past week-end another family of trailer trash has moved in,(same house) along with the Confederate flags in the front and side windows, the burning of the stump in the back yard, the drinking of beer in the front yard and the best part. The men (I should say dogs) peeing in the front of the house...great to have your teenage daughter see. Yep that's what I want to see after living in the same house for 27 years. This house has had nothing but low lives for several years living in it. On many occasions the police had to be called On my street alone there are 6 rental houses out of about 30 houses would be my guess.
I will agree water and sewer bills are raping us, but what can you do? You don't have any choice.
And to blame anyone at city hall, well who's fault is that? The residents, if you don't know whats going on with your city your getting rectally what you want. Yes, I mean rectally. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the most oil. So instead of bad mouthing Raytown, or complaining, why don't you attend some of these meetings and see what's going, voice your opinion. From your post it looks like you do read the paper, but government works different then what the media reports.
The only finger that can be pointed at is the residents, they're the ones who can change things, not city hall. All in all I think we have had over the years many council members and mayors who cared about what happened in this city. They take the words "Public Servant" literally. Now it's time for all of us as residents to make sure we get what our tax dollars pay for. (Don't get me started on taxes that another can of worms.
I love Raytown, I don't love the element that has gotten in the past few years, but I know I can do something about....because my voice does count.
As for sewer bills, I remember a bond election to repair our sewers. Someone has to pay for that obligation. As for sewer rates, why not limit toilet flushing to once per day (unless you really have to flush), no more than one shower or bath per week, no laundry or dishes until you have a full load, etc. I cut my winter water usage to 600 gallons per month except November when I was dumb enough to water some new seeds I used 2300 gallons.
Water is so expensive that I can't affort it anyway.
Andy Whiteman
In a town of thirty thousand people only a little over three
thousand showed up to vote. That's the way it is every election year.
That's why nothing will ever change in Raytown. Almost everybody
you talk to on the street are not happy with the way this town is run.
They are not happy with the taxes, they are not happy with their neighborhoods
have gone downhill, and they are not happy with the shape the streets are in.
So where does the blame go. It goes to the people that don't like the way things
are going and sit on their rumps when it's time to vote.
Nothing but, nothing will ever change as long as the same ten percent show up
to vote.
Now about the tax issue. I can only say that we are definitly going to get something out of our police department. All the prigrams that were cut that helpped the community, like the crime free multi-housing, Elderly assistance program, and others. Our police department is at the top when it comes to professionalism and assistance. I have lived in Lee's Summit and Kansas City, as well as Raytown. I have seen what bad police are, and how helpful they cannot be; But since living here the police are always quick to respond and get the job done right. Unlike Kansas City who will take forever even if you are shot. I think that everyone needs to stop complaining about what has passed and focus on what is to come.
Also one more thing tell all of your nieghbors, freinds, and family in Raytown to get more interested in thier Kids' education. The teachers can only meet the student half way. It is the decline in family values and home structure that are ruining the young person's ability to learn. Smart parents are Parents who care. Smart children have caring parents. See how that works.
I would like to thank the 330 voters that voted for me last week. Your confidence and support in me is greatly appreciated. I am truly sorry that it did not turn out the way we had hoped but don't feel to disappionted we almost made it. We only lost by 13votes. We gave him a run for his money. So thank you for all you did tried to do.
To all of you who helped with my campaign,from your help with the brochures to the financing, walking, talking, standing the polls and anything else that goes along with running a campaign for office, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I could not have done it without all of you. Please know how much I appreciate all of your work.
Sincerely,
Sandy Hartwell
You at least have the experience and the pose. I hope you continue to be involved in city politics.
Andy,
I dont think anything happened at the smoke shop, the motorcycle cops like towrite tickets for people turning left from cedar onto 63rd. I see them sit there from time to time.
The truck drivers that live in raytown need a place to park when the come home to visit. They are only allowed to park for 2 hours in a residential street. A working truck driver deserves to see his family once in a while. There is no place else for them to park.
I see that the layout has changed on the home page.
So am assuming that the changes Greg posted on Monday morning are happening.
I hope the blog continues. It is a good source of information about our town. I also like the different points of view that are expressed here.
It is part of what makes Raytown such a great place to live.
posts. How do you know what the people want and need if you don't
take the time to talk to them?
How do you know if you are doing a good job for them?
I voted for VanBuskirk in Ward 4 and think he was the best choice.
Nothing personal against Sandy. Just thought it was time for a change. Bill struck me as a smart man who really cares for Raytown.
April 14, 2009 12:01 PM, I agree more people should have voted. I said this previously. With a city of 30,000, I assume maybe 10,000 are old enought to vote. Ward 4 was decided by 13 votes. If more had voted, things may have been different. I voted because I had strong feeling about 2 candidates and the sales tax issue. People should get to the polls and express their feelings. I think everyone who posts a complaint here should state if they voted. (Only if the voted, not how.) From what I read here, I expected a larger turnout but realizing people don't vote in local election, I wasn't surprised.
Andy Whiteman
That area is well known for traffic accidents, I don't know what had happened but I don't have that many fingers and toes to count the number of accidents I've seen there in the past 5 years or less. So I'm just taking a shot here.
They were nice clean and polite, i did not notice any over weight guys or piercings as claimed in earlier posts.
They took the time to show my daughter the fire truck and she got pictures taken on the truck.
I thought they deserved a kind word.
jackie
I don't know what provoked the previous comment about piercings. I know people with piercings and am able to look beyond piercings. What counts is if the person can do the job in a professional manner.
1:37 PM, I have news for those with no interest in voting who hope to sell and move. The may have a difficult time selling with the condition this city is in. As I said at the BOA, if the city looked like this in 2000, I wouldn't have bought a home here. This city is delapidated.
Andy Whiteman
It seems like we on this post like to complain and I know
I do a lot of it too but, I have always felt that our city's police, fire,
maintenance and city services are manned by the best people in the
area. Everyone a professional and always treat people with respect.
It has always been wrong to complain about these fine workers and
our protectors and teachers, because of higher taxing and upper management
getting big pay increases, along with the buildings they are provided.
I know a lot of these people, and believe me they don't do this kind of work
to get rich. They do it because they like it and they like people.
So Jackie, thank you for the positive words about our protectors.
"If you were to purchase a $2,000 refrigerator from Clarks Appliances today, you would pay $152 (or 7.6%) in all sales taxes. If you were to purchase that same refrigerator from Best Buy in Lee's Summit you would pay $172 (or 8.6%) in all sales taxes because of the CID at the shopping Center in LS. If you were to wait until the Public Safety Sales Tax began in October you would pay $162 (or 8.1%) in Raytown but still pay $172 in Lee's Summit."
I can't believe people shop Lees Summit for lower taxes. If they want to say they like the stores better, I could believe that.
Andy Whiteman
Shift toward TIF leaves less for basic services
By YAEL T. ABOUHALKAH
For years economic development gurus have pumped up tax-increment financing as the savior of Kansas City’s budget.
The mantra went this way: TIF projects will bring in new jobs, stores and tax revenue so the city will be able to spend more money on basic services such as public safety and capital improvements.
However, new information from the city shows this contention isn’t coming true. In fact, a good case can be made that tax-increment financing is killing Kansas City’s budget.
Let’s take a look at one key example.
In the 2009-10 budget starting May 1, the city’s 1-cent sales tax that finances infrastructure repairs is expected to bring in $68 million.
But the city can’t spend that much. First, it has to deduct $15.8 million that will be diverted to more than four dozen retail and business TIF developments.
That leaves $52.2 million for fixing infrastructure.
In other words, a whopping 23 percent of every sales-tax dollar has to be forked over to pay for roads, sewers, office buildings, retail shops and other parts of TIF developments.
That’s bad enough news, but it’s only half the story. The city actually had more money to spend from this tax just three years ago.
In the 2006-07 fiscal year, the city took in $66.5 million from the 1-cent sales tax, with TIF projects soaking up $7.2 million. That left $59.3 million for public infrastructure repairs.
So even as more TIF development occurred in the last three years, the amount of public funds available for capital improvements actually fell by $7 million.
Here’s another quick example:
More and more of the city’s restaurant sales tax is being diverted to TIF developments, leaving less to pay off millions in Bartle Hall debt. Right now, 30 percent of every restaurant sales-tax dollar goes to TIF projects, up from only 5 percent three years ago.
As the city dips into its general fund to make Bartle’s debt payments, less money is left for basic services.
So why is this happening?
Page 62 of this year’s budget overview has a good answer. Frankly, I was surprised but pleased to see such an honest assessment of TIF’s problems in a city document.
It points out that taxes diverted to TIF projects will rise by millions of dollars in the 2009-10 budget.
“These redirected taxes are increasing more rapidly than total taxes because of the negative effect of ‘displacement’ or ‘substitution.’ Displacement occurs when customers’ destinations for shopping and/or dining shift from a non-TIF area to a TIF district, a result of the interest generated by the new attractions.”
Here’s a real-world example.
A lot of people are eating at restaurants in the publicly subsidized Power & Light District, which uses 100 percent of its sales, earnings and utility taxes to pay for the project. But fewer people are eating at restaurants that still pay 100 percent of their taxes to the city.
Plus, some of those older, 100 percent tax-paying restaurants are going out of business trying to compete with the newer, subsidized restaurants.
The city’s budget book continued: “Displacement also results from existing businesses expanding or relocating to a TIF development area and discontinuing business in a non-TIF location.”
For instance, two years ago Wal-Mart closed a large store in the Benjamin Plaza shopping area in south Kansas City and opened a smaller store on the old Blue Ridge Mall site. The old store paid full taxes to the city. The new one pays only 50 percent of its taxes to the city, with the rest being plowed back into the project.
Kansas City’s excessive use of tax-increment financing in the past will have negative effects on budgets — and on services received by residents — for many years to come.
It would appear that Kansas City doesn't have any business minded
people on it's City Council either.
All it would have taken there, as well as here, was a few questions.
What will this do to the city's economy? And what will it cost the city in
the long run? Can this city keep up the cities services for the people if it gives away so much in tax income?
Simple questions that are seldom asked. Elected officials are so involved with "progress" that they loose sight of who really pays for it. We the people
pay for it with bad streets and services. Once they realize their mistake they throw another tax increase at us to pay for their bad decisions in the
name of "progress."
I'm afraid Raytown hasn't seen the last of the full tax paying businesses leaving
our town. The 350 hwy. deal will cripple this town but, if a Lowe's or Home Depot
goes in at 6700 blue Ridge that will just about do it for Raytown and the rest of
Raytown's full tax paying small businesses.
I ask as if I learn to keep to my questions and not attacks will my comments start being posted.
I have checked and city hall is on Raytown Water Company not Public Water District #2.
The underlining issue for me is they work for the one and have been elected by the other and I understand the group for me to contact is the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Does anyone know if this is correct and if so how I would contact them?
I used to dispatch AT&T employees who took their truck home so they could respond from home without going to the garage.
There is a Jackson County Water truck parked at a residence.
Albuquerque, NM Police took their vehicles home so that they could respond to a call from home.
Restrictions on use must be set my the owners of the vehicle.
Possibably Water District #2 has a vehicle take home policy. In my opinion, if the company allows personal use of the vehicle, it is not an ethics violation, but the question should be asked of the ethics people.
As another poster pointed out, traffic officers are not trained as detectives. Traffic is an important part of police wark. I used to dispatch and due to traffic stops, many wanted individuals and stolen vehicles were apprehended who would not have been apprehended if it wasn't for the traffic stop.
The metro squad worked the murder case and were clueless. As I remember it, the last double homicide took some time to solve. This case could be a cold case or may be resolved in the future from evidence not made public as was the last murder. I hope for a resolution, the sooner, the better.
Andy Whiteman
If police departments did it right there would be more traffic cops. Crashes cost this country BILLIONS of dollars every year in paying for damage to vehicle, paying for injuries and paying for deaths. A lot of these deaths could be prevented if people would use common sense but that is apparently not possible.
Raytown needs more traffic officers. There are 3 plus a supervisor. There are 9 detectives with 2 supervisors.
Real life crime labs take longer than 30 seconds to get a DNA sample. This is part of the problem with society as well. They watch too much CSI on tv and think that any and every crime can be solved and in 1 hour.
Maybe we should demand the 2 detectives from the new sales tax be traffic officers not detectives and stop some of these needless crashes that are costing lots of money.
This is lazy police work on the part of our policemen; their time could be better spent in many other areas of the city. It does draw in some revenue, but that really isn't supposed to be the reason for traffic enforcement.
Also, have you ever wondered why the Catholic school (on Gregory) appears to get special attention from our traffic cops? The school is in our city and I have no problem with some traffic enforcement there, but not constantly!
Anon 11:57 PM, You make many good points. I wonder if Raytown has a traffic detective? Denver does. When my wife was run down, a traffic detective investigated the case.
The problem with drivers is NO COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY. I took a Post Office safe driving class that taught to ASSUME THE OTHER DRIVER IS A COMPLETE IDIOT!
People think that CSI cases on TV only take one hour to solve. They don't stop and think there are 2 or more cases per show. The time per case is actually days or weeks until resolution. The shows don't display time frames but obviously the resolution does not happen in one day. Criminal Minds is obviously more drawn out than one hour when you stop and think that they tarvel to the location and return. Anyone who is really paying attention realizes there is a transition in time from day to evening to night to day to evening to night, etc. Could this all be taking place the same day? Obviously it is over a period of several days. I recall one CSI that covered several nights. Obviously this is case was not resolved in one hour. Cold Case covers many years in one show.
Precious Doe's murder was NOT solved in a day, week, or month. It took years!
The real problem Raytown will have in the next few years is maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure in this city. Raytown is a financially poor municipality led by those who lack the proper education, but well intended local people. The city government of Raytown is tapped out. There are no additional sales taxes available for use by Raytown. Only potential increases in the property tax levy remain and Raytown City government will run into strong resistance in any additional property taxes to bail them out of decades of financial mismanagement.
The only benefit that we have is that the individuals representing us are not receiving regular media intense coverage. Our city government is being misled and it will show in the next few years. When Raytown becomes bankrupt, we should somehow hold these public officials accountable for this financial mismanagement and they should not be able to walk away after years of this behavior. It cannot be avoided. They have trapped themselves and it will happen. The only thing that will save Raytown is the intelligence of the common citizen.
Under present law, we are not allowed initiative and petition to reconcile the gross mistakes of our city leadership. So unfortunately, all home owners are trapped as well unless they sell and leave the community.
G. Riley
G. Riley, Who is electing the officials that we have no recall rights over? The problem starts with the voters. We need intelligent citizens who will vote for intelligent officials. The last election demostrated that most of our citizens are not smart enough to get off their butts and go vote. The leadership and sales tax of the city were decided by a few. In Ward 4 one person one by 13 votes. Pittiful!! Since the Public Safety Sales tax was so
contested, I really expected a larger turn out at the polls. Seems like people can blow off steam here, but don't take the time to vote or express their comments to the BOA.
As for the streets, I just read in the Red Star that one village in England is not repairing pot holes because because pothiles cut down on speeders. Is that the reason for no street repair in Raytown? Actually overlay will be useless on some streets because of areas that have FAILED.
Andy Whiteman
All points unfounded. Raytown's police don't just wake up some mornings
and say, I think I will do this or do that. They are given assignments.
The men in black, (or really dark blue) the officers you see on the street
are not detectives.
Everybody that works for the City of Raytown are told what to do by
upper management in City Hall. Those are the people you should complain
to if you are unhappy with the way things are being done.
If you want to complain about the quality of upper management hired you might have something there. Raytown's track record for hiring City Administrators,
Neighborhood Development Directors and developers in the past has cost taxpayers millions. All OK'd by elected officials.
To say our workers can only get jobs in Raytown is just wrong. Other cities and towns
hire our workers away yearly. Everything begins at the top. That top is City Hall.
But, even they have people above them and that's the voters.
The overlay gives the street surface a new top that protects the base of the street. When that it ignored, the base begins to fall apart.
It is as simple as that.
Election turnout at the polls has been declining in Raytown for many years. The turnout is still affected by the excitement created by the candidates.
The biggest turnout this year was in Ward 4. Coincidentally, that was also the closest race. It outdistanced all other poll totals.
The lowest turnout was in Ward 3 where both candidates ran very inactive campaigns.
Map out the areas where a disproportionate number of crimes are committed and increase the police presence accordingly. You will decrease crimes exponentially
Attracting new, productive people to the community and retaining the active members we already have requires two things: Low crime rates and a good school system.
Personally, I think the two go hand-in-hand. You can improve your school system by cutting down on the negative, criminal influences in the surrounding areas. MSIP reports show that students at Raytown South High School feel less safe than students at Paseo High School as well as other inner-city schools. That is not something to write home about. As I have asked previously, at what point does school safety become a public safety issue? Must we wait until there is a 75 person brawl at a track meet like Ruskin had a few weeks ago?
The city doesn't pay its workers a living wage. That is why other cities are hiring our good workers. We lost a good public works person who had to work 2 other jobs to make ends meet. I have advocated lowering pay for management especially top management and increasing pay of those who do the actual work. This City certainally doesn't need a
$100,000+ tie wearing, chair warming, City Administrator. We need to pay the actual workers a living wage so they aren't hired away. For some strange reason, the BOA is concerned that upper management may be hired away and want to match other cities in regards to salary of these chair warmers. Ridiculous.
Andy Whiteman
Hopefully I won't be here by then but if I am, my vote is "NO"
Andy Whiteman
I will vote no on this.