Sunday, December 17, 2017

RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE

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Fair Taxation . . .
BY GREG WALTERS
Reasonable and fair taxation should be a goal of the Raytown Board of Alderman as they move into 2018. With that in mind, the Board should look back at mistakes made by their predecessors.

BROKEN PROMISES: One area past administrations have been guilty of is broken promises. In 2010 voters were promised the proceeds from a quarter cent sales tax would be split between storm sewer repair and City Parks. Voters approved the tax. It was collected for five years and ALL of the tax collected went directly to Parks. It was not until 2015 when newly elected Alderman Karen Black brought the issue to the Board’s attention. An agreement was made for future tax revenues to be split between Storm Sewer repair and the Parks. However, the agreement allowed for a lop-sided division of the tax dollars with the lion’s share of it going to Parks.

The incident, even the solution, left the city with a black eye.

The lesson here is the Board must be concise in its descriptions of how any new tax is to be used. Once the promise is made . . . keep it!

BAIT AND SWITCH: A tactic used by administrations was to create a new tax, and then use the revenue created to budget items traditionally paid from other revenue sources. Most people will recognize the Transportation Tax. This tax was supposed to be used to create a steady inflow of revenue to make certain Raytown Streets were kept in good condition. A good intention, but one not followed. Some of the Transportation Tax has found its way to pay for ongoing expenses like the ATA Bus Service to Raytown. Other parts of the tax are captured to pay the debt of 350 Live TIF Project (commonly known as the Walmart TIF).

All of those expenses are a far cry from what was promised the voters.

TAX ABATEMENTS AND TIF’S: Past City Councils have drunken deeply from TIF and Tax Abatement trough in the past, and we are paying for it now in lost revenue to the city. Our elected officials should learn from those mistakes. A moratorium banning all tax schemes that give developers tax dollars should be seriously considered by the Board of Aldermen. That would include all tax benefit districts currently available . . . particularly the one that encompasses all of Downtown Raytown.

NEW TAXES: Some members of the Board have suggested a two cents sales tax on gasoline. This idea has merit. Raytown could benefit from outside tax dollars coming into our city. City officials say the tax could only be used on street maintenance. Which sounds good, but it should also contain a clause that precludes the Board from using current and future budgets from taking money traditionally earmarked for streets to be used for other needs.

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE: According to the last census the median age in Raytown is over 55 years. That means more than half of our population in Raytown is either retired or nearing retirement. Many of those will be homeowners on fixed incomes. A property tax increase would be an unfair burden. The Board would be wise to find another way.

Finally, there is the ticklish issue of the Police Department. No doubt there will be some in the community who will want to see funds clipped from the city budget returned. The Board’s first consideration should be to bring management of the city’s funding to an even keel. They should take care to avoid the slippery slope of a tax and spend policy that brought the financial crisis to City Hall in the first place.

BY PAUL LIVIUS
What Does it Take to
Replace a Light Bulb?



Last week I was driving down 63rd Street by the new Dollar General Store located next to Blue Ridge Elementary. I could not help but notice that the Dollar General sign was only half lit. Then I remembered. This was not the first time I had been down 63rd Street and noticed the half lit sign. if memory serves me right, the sign has been burned out for over a month!

This is not right. The city bent over backwards to allow Dollar General to locate its store there. In fact, they did so over the objections of the people who living in the neighborhoods around the store.

I am quite certain the employees and manager of the store know the sign is no longer lit up. I mean, the “dollar” side is lit. The “general” part is not.

I was no fan of the store going in. But the city should at least make the owners of the store keep an appearance of professionalism in how the building is maintained.

So, if you work for the city in the codes department, why not send them a letter, or better yet, go visit with the manager and explain to them why the sign should be properly illuminated.

Or, do it not, and read about it on this page until it is repaired.  

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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

A Community Improvement District (CID) is usually an additional 1% of sales tax Raytown has allowed to be charged on its citizens by large corporate giants in Raytown like Sutherlands, HyVee and Walmart. Every time you shop at one of those stores you pay an extra penny on every dollar for the CID. It is not voted on by the taxpayers. The 1% CID money is collected by the store. It is then turned into the state who re-distributes the money to the tax entities. In the case of a CID one of those taxing entities is the store where it was spent. So they get the money back! The money is supposed to be used for upgrades to the property. Hence the term Community IMPROVEMENT District.

In case you wondered, if you buy a house in Raytown you are not allowed to receive a Community IMPROVEMENT District even though you will probably make improvements to your property.

A CID is a handout to those who are already rich. Some people complain about the tax breaks coming our way from the federal government. At least we get something out of the deal. CID and TIF schemes give you nothing in return for the extra tax you pay. It is for the exclusive use of corporate America

Anonymous said...

Without the CID, stores like Sutherlands might not come to Raytown to begin with and then the city would receive zero. Then you would have something else to complain about.

In Sutherlands' case, the CID expires when they recoup the expense of remodeling and opening the store.

Anonymous said...

I don't think one's age should have anything to do with paying higher taxes. The issue is do the citizens want to support the needs of the City or not? Yes or no.

My property tax is $1,500 per year for my home in Raytown. $1,000 of that goes to the school district. Do you know what the national average for property tax is? $2,127.00


Last week you were telling us that the roads in Raytown are in deplorable shape and need to be fixed, and yet you continue to be opposed to property taxes.


Where does the money come from to solve the infrastructure issue? I think it's great that the editors of this blog are on board for the gas tax, but the revenue from that is quarter million per year tops.

It all can be explained this way: Do you want to drive on gravel roads? Yes or No.

Do you want the city to let your sidewalks and curbs deteriorate? Yes or No.


I guess we could go back to gravel roads for the neighborhood streets, but I wonder what that would do to property values? It would be nice to hear the Raytown Report come up with a viable solution for addressing the infrastructure issue rather than just taking on the role of Dr. No.


Anonymous said...

I think the editors of this blog have their finger on the pulse of the community. They are are opposed to raising the property tax becasue there are people in Raytown who cannot afford the increase. They want a gasoline tax to raise dollars for road improvements. A good idea especially if you the city keeps funding road repair at the same level. Let's say the city currently spends 250 thousand dollars for road repair. This gasoline tax should be in addition to the tax. That makes it half a million. At least it makes sense to me.

Anonymous said...

Say what you will but if a general property tax increase gets passed, it will be business as usual with the vast majority going where it will do our streets and sidewalks no good.
I will strongly oppose it.

Anonymous said...

@9:43

Because past performance guarantees future results? So gonna vote no then?

Your answer is like not wanting to go to the dentist to fill a cavity. Sure your tooth still works, but eventually the cavity will grow and then youll need a root canal or a tooth pulled, costing far more in the end.

.
Well, I guess Raytown can earn extra money in tire sales, shocks and struts. Oh and the property tax on all the 4x4s that will be needed to navigate the potholes.

Andy Whiteman said...

I don't know about Raytown, but when I lived in KCMO; the property owner was responsible for maintaining the sidewalks. After there were complaints, the city of KCMO would notify property owners to repair their sidewalks or the city would do it and charge them for the repairs.

The problem with taxes in Raytown is that they did not go to the stated purpose. I was against the parks tax in 2010 but voted for it when it was stated as "a parks, storm storm drainage split." Then I find out the voters were lied to and parks got most of it. I think there is a general mistrust of Raytown taxes.

Andy Whiteman

Anonymous said...

City is in charge of and responsible for sidewalk maintenance in Raytown.

Andy, your first sentence says it all... "I don't know about Raytown."
I agree with that declaration.

Anonymous said...

Andy, you are right about the trust issue. I have not lived here as long as others. So my attitude is more of, “let’s fix this” But, if I voted for something and the money did not go to the stated purpose, then I would feel jaded too. I can only hope that tax assessments will be up this year and people replace vehicles and maybe the gas tax passes and the city will have some funds to invest in roads.

Anonymous said...

Before we raise any taxes, I would like an audit to know where our current taxes are being spent. I can't just beg to be taxed more until then.

It is obvious the police budget has been out of control, so I am suspicious of other departments.

Anonymous said...

Amazing what two weeks will do for some ones personality. Two weeks ago Steve Meyers was a bull dog at the BOA wanting to talk to the Chief Lynch about the $15,000.00 allotted for housing prisoners. Captain Rogers didn't answer the question to his satisfaction, so he said he would take it up with the Chief at the next meeting. Wow in two weeks Alderman Meyers changed from a bull dog to a puddy cat. I have been told your personality changes quickly and now I have seen it for my self.

Anonymous said...

8:21 Im curious what other departments you think have out of control spending? I'll admit when the budget crisis started I wasnt following everything like an informed voter but I began to. I feel strongly after looking back at past meeting that can be found online that each of these members have demonstrated at some point to be fiscal hawks and cut expenses drastically the past dozens of meeting I observed. In reading the budget I'd like to see where this out of control spending is, I dont see it. Fact is we are broke folks, we havent been keeping up with our infrastructure either which will now cost more. As our school district keeps taxing, the city keeps collapsing. The city needs a tax of some sort and these other taxing groups need to tax a back seat....for once.

Anonymous said...

After a long delay last week along Blue Ridge Blvd due to a water leak, the Raytown water company is putting the barricades back up as I type this.
Water is pouring down the street and they will have to excavate again.
Geeez that is one screwed up outfit.

Anonymous said...

So an earlier poster claims:

"Some people complain about the tax breaks coming our way from the federal government. At least we get something out of the deal."

To me this sleight of hand tax cut is very much like borrowing on your credit card to indulge yourself. Trouble is when it comes time to pay the piper, we will not be in any better shape... probably worse.

BTW.. if you are on Medicare like many in this town, you can expect to take it the shorts after a bit when the Feds wake up to the fact that there's just not enough money to go around.

The whole scheme reminds me of what Brownback did to Kansas recently. Nearly brought the state to its knees.

Anonymous said...

Meyers took a wise course of action. You don’t cut 2.7 million from the budget and then throw a fit about housing prisioners with another jurisdiction. This contract with Johnson County is for long term prisoners and is way cheaper and safer that housing with Jackson County.

Anonymous said...

You expect Neal and his crew from Raytown Water Co to fix the water leak in front of Raytown High School on Blue Ridge quick? Just look at 59th Street, West of Raytown Traffic way, it is nothing but a wash board and it has been this way for almost a year. I was told that Neal is in discussions with his insurance company on what they will cover. If the city would get off their "dead asses" and put pressure on Neal to get the water line breaks fixed. But the city and Neal are "buddy-buddy". Show we have no codes department much less a city hall.

Anonymous said...

I thought Alderman Meyers wisely utilized the revist request with Chief Lynch to update the folks that there is some encouraging staffing news coming out of the PD which was a welcome announcement. Agreed didn’t see that kumbya moment coming, but it was a refreshing discussion and maybe an indication that everyone is moving forward which is a necessary action step.

Anonymous said...

I would vote for a tax increase IF, I knew it wouldn't all go to the PD so Lynch could rebuild his empire.

Anonymous said...

Have to house prisoners or you become a laughing stock like they are now. That department has had its legs cut off. No people to effectively protect the city, crime on the rise but you drink the koolaid that taxes are bad, etc. this city is screwed and is slowly dying.

Jorge

Anonymous said...

I love posts like yours. How about you have some kind of way for them to put pressure on him. If you read up on utilities it’s a little tough other than not giving him any more permits which would mean he could not fix things.

Anonymous said...

Neal doesn't fix things now so what is the difference? Look at his car wash, stables and so on..........