Park
Sales Tax on BOA Agenda
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
FIRST
READING TO TAKE PLACE
AT TUESDAY NIGHT’S MEETING
Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers has sponsored
a Park Sales Tax increase on the Tuesday, May 21st Agenda of the
Raytown Board of Aldermen. The bill will have its first reading at the meeting.
State law requires all city ordinances to receive two public readings before
they be voted on by the Board of Aldermen. The second meeting, when the bill
will be voted, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4th.
LOOKING
BACK . . .
The proposed 1/8 cent sales tax was last
approved in 2010 for a 10 year term. The life of the current tax will terminate
in April of 2020.
The Park Sales tax has not been without
controversy.
In 2010 the Board of Aldermen decided to
“split” the proceeds from the sale tax between Park Department needs and storm
water runoff needs in Raytown. A determination of how the tax would be “split”
was not addressed.
All the same, many in the public
believed the split would be of a 50/50 nature. Half of the money going towards
Parks and one half of the money addressing storm drainage problems.
For reasons that have never been
explained, the first five years the tax was collected, 100% of the money went
to Raytown Parks and Recreation.*
It was not until five years had passed
that former Raytown Alderman Karen Black pointed out the discrepancy. The
solution arrived at was less than equitable. From that point forward 70% of the
available funds went to the Park Department with 30% going towards Storm Water
Drainage needs.
Clearly, an equitable “split” of the tax
revenue promised in 2010 did not materialize. Many voters in Raytown,
particularly those with storm water problems, feel they were duped into voting
for the tax.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen has an
opportunity to break away from the stigma of broken promises.
The Parks Department never paid any of
the tax dollars back to the city.
The Board should vote to create an
honest 50/50 split of Parks - Storm Water Tax. In that way the City can begin
to rebuild the trust that has been broken with the public.
Apologists for the Park Board argue that
Raytowners were well aware of the intricacies of the agreement that ended up
with a “split” of 70% to 30%. There are
many in Raytown who have flooding problems on their property and even in their
homes who would beg to differ.
What it comes down to is this – which is
more important – a splash park that would be open three months a year, or
Raytown homeowners not having to worry if their homes are being flooded.
*The Park Board never returned any
portion of the tax revenue they received those first five years.
State
Auditor to Address Board of Aldermen Meeting on June 4th
State
Auditor to Address Board of Aldermen Meeting on June 4th
Representatives from the Missouri State
Auditor Nicole Galloway's Office will be on hand to address the Raytown Board of Aldermen at the regular
Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.
A State Audit of the City of Raytown as requested by Raytown citizens in petition drive last November.
The meeting is open to the public.
Questions and dialogue from the audience will be permitted at this public
hearing.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen meeting is
held at 10,000 East 59th Street. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
Raytown
Democratic
Association Report BY PAUL LIVIUS
The Raytown Democrat Association (RDA)
held its monthly meeting last Thursday. The main topic of interest was the
proposed Park / Storm Water sales tax tentatively planned to go before the
voters in November of 2019.
Ward 5 Alderman Bonnaye Mims was on hand
to report the city’s business to the RDA members.
During her presentation she asked for a
straw poll of what members thought of the proposed tax.
Much to her surprise the showing of
hands showed a large majority of the members present were opposed to the Park / Storm Sewer Sales Tax.
Reasons for opposition to the tax varied
but most flowed around accountability of elected officials to a distrust of
intentions. Many stated they believed the repairing of the city’s storm sewer
infra-structure was of higher importance.
The Raytown Democrat Association meets
the third Thursday of each month at Las Chilis Restaurant located at 6210
Raytown Trafficway.
A social hour runs from 6:00 to 7:00
p.m., followed by a business meeting.
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52 comments:
I have reading about the debate over parks vs. storm sewer tax. I think we should take care of the people who are having problems with storm sewer problems first. This weekend's rains may be the beginning of a very wet summer. Some of my neighbors have water problems caused by poor drainage on the streets. Let's take care of them first. It is much more important that putting in some water attraction or a dog park. I have nothing against parks. But taking care or people should come first.
What I wonder about is all these items Ryan Myers brought forward. He was supposed to start a meeting of "under 30s" on how to get tax measures improved, but that has yet to materialise. In addition to his adding the parks item after 10pm of the meeting and trying to ram through everything. I would appreciate if he would come through on any of these grand ideas.
Perhaps sitting that close to the mayor some traits have rubbed off...
"...I think the chief can be appointed by whoever but the Board needs to approve of any selection not an unelected bureaucrat making more than 20 percent of market rate who is accountable to no one..."
The troubling part is that we believe a police chief selection has already been made. Someone with a big, fat RPD pension/retirement pkg looking to add another 100K+ to his year. The "usual suspects" and this candidate appear to be taking their time to acclimate/season/habituate everyone to the idea.
Your potential new chief warmed a seat for decades down in the basement. Never saw the guy. Not once. Never a peep from him. Now all of a sudden he's regularly out there on the streets getting his hands dirty with the rank and file. He also appears to be on tour. He's walking in and shaking hands with business owners who wonder the same thing: he's never crossed over our threshold in decades, now why all of a sudden with the palsy walsy?
There are worse candidates for the job in our opinion. This guy lands somewhere in the middle. It's just the sneaky, choreographed way they're trying to get this guy into office is what irritates us.
We do trust certain members of the Council implicitly and have full confidence in their objectivity and ultimate decision.
It's business as usual in Raytown, however and it's annoying.
I am in total agreement with taking care of citizens water problems and the streets before giving the parks any more money. Parks needs to take of what they have with the money they have and currently get. Personally I think there are a lot of citizens who would serve on the park board, and do a much better job than we have that are currently serving.
Coleman and Kenagy are the main parks and need to remain open.
We might need to talk about the smaller ones, but 1st we need to look at the two elephants in the room.
Are we at least breaking even on the BMX Park and the Baseball fields on 350.
If not fees need to go up to at least break even, but should actually be more for a reserve for any repairs to either.
Park board couldn't complain about this as they like a big fat reserve any way.
WAIT
We cannot forget the shell game being played with SuperSplash. Yes, that is what you call it we the park board closed it down then quickly put of basketball goals because of Federal Funds they took years ago to keep a park open at that location.
They have used the fact we don't have a local paper to try and cover this mess up, which with luck is park of the state audit.
We would be wrong to forget the number of paid staff in the parks department that cannot even explain what they do. Remember they don't have SuperSplash anymore, BMX is a dark hole of unknowns, and mowing is out sourced.
This my fellow citizens is on top of all kinds of answers as to how much I'd in reserves.
I with antone who is against giving the park board more money.
All in all "It your money"!
But if you didn't help on mikes campaign you will not be appointed.
Considering that we still have a top heavy police department after all of the months since Lynch resigned we don't need anyone from within the department in the top position.
We need a professional that will clean up the department
So let me understand, you DON’T want the new Chief to be present in the community, listen to business owners’ concerns, and communicate with people? Because as far as I’ve heard, that’s what he’s been doing since he took over the job.
It comes down to this. Build a splash pad or fix flooding problems in Raytown. I really find it hard to believe the majority of the public want to ignore flooding problems in Raytown.
PD moral is up. Community confidence and communication with PD leadership is up. Traffic enforcement is up. Recruiting and officer count is up. Still not good enough for the Negative Nancy's. What's up with that? SMH
7:00 YOU CAN MAKE THEM DO THEIR JOB TO INCLUDE BEING OUT ON THE STREETS NOT AT A DESK!
YOU SHOULD ALREADY MAKE THEM BID OR OTHERWISE ASSIGN ONE PER SHIFT AND BE ON THE STREETS.
NOT DOING SO YOU HAVE CAUSE, BUT BEING THESE ARE REGULAR OFFICERS NOT THE CHIEF I AM NOT SURE YOU NEED CAUSE.
YOU ARE DOWN SIZING TO A MORE EFFECT DEPARTMENT/ ONE ON THE STREETS AND WE ALL KNOW THESE LAZY OFFICERS DON'T LIKE THE STREETS.
We don't need to close parks. In only a couple of years salary line has doubled but personal numbers are down. Perhaps we need to look at how much we are paying these people. The director didn't make director pay for almost a year, but there are probably others making 50k+ to answer a phone.
They were promoted in error, and you certainly can downsize they did it 2 years ago. Companies and municipalities all over the country have been doing it. Perhaps we start with whoever is running the 2 detectives. We don't need a capt to watch over 2 people, especially when they say most crimes won't be investigated.
What about when he was 2nd in command? He never went out then, he's campaigning for the job. Personally I'm just happy someone is out there
I see there is a Democrat group, is there any Republican or independent group in Raytown?
"So let me understand, you DON’T want the new Chief to be present in the community, listen to business owners’ concerns, and communicate with people? Because as far as I’ve heard, that’s what he’s been doing since he took over the job. May 19, 2019 at 11:17 PM"
11:17 PM, I can understand your confusion, my bad really, so I'll suh-suh-slow down a little.
We weren't referring to the interim chief. He indeed is -also- out there with his rank and file. But he's ALWAYS done this and is STILL all over town. This individual is a true law enforcement administrator that has already contributed substantially to the Department in the very short amount of time since his his predecessor "retired". We're not going to convict him of guilt by association based on his employment where his work product (and allegiance) were more than likely being closely scrutinized by a well-worn clique, IOHO.
I'm referring to any basement-dwelling contemporary that hasn't really contributed DITKUS to the community in the last couple decades, IOHO. They've had their "time". They've had their "chance". It will be a very sad day if more of the same gets installed right under our noses into that office. Because they'll shake a few hands, kiss a couple babies, and after the fact burrow back downstairs into their office, and take up where they left off prior to their retirement. Except with an expense account, full benefits and an additional 100K+ yearly paycheck to boot.
Demoting people will trigger immediate lawsuits that the city doesn’t need.
We need to put parks off for a few years and add more police, a need that has gone unmet since 2017.
As I read these comments my basement is slowly flooding. The reason? The city has engineered the street in front of my house in such a way that water is actually pushed onto my property. As all water does, it finds the lowest point to settle. My basement is that point. I can divert water away by extending my downspouts. I can build up the ground around my house. But when an entire street of hard surface sheds its water at my house, it is a losing battle.
Count me as one who wants the storm sewer work we were promised ten years ago.
Fix out problems. Then talk to me about funding tax $$$$'s for parks.
One way to fix the police and park issue is cut the pay by at least 10% and remind them like in the private sector you still have a job.
if they don't like it they most likely are not who we wanted to start with.
Earn your check like the rest of us or move on.
The private sector is different than public sector. Nice try. Unless you’ve done the job, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Some of the stuff posted here does not make sense. My favorite is the person who wrote you cannot cut individual's pay because it will bring lawsuits. Tell that fairy tale to the people who used to work for Raytown ambulance. Most of them have lost their jobs. Very few ended up in the Fire Department. Reorganizations happen all the time in both the private and public sectors.
Eliminating the department is different than thinking you can cut pay. If they try, there won’t be many if any left. Keep pushing and the pd will die and you can try it with the county or Kansas City.
That's what lawyers and insurance are for. The mayor didn't mind screwing over a lady that lost her mother, but I bet you won't find him realigning the PD. He's got to protect his own.
Besides the person sitting in the chiefs office what has changed in the last 3 months? If nothing than you must admit the last chief was the problem.
Why do we keep appointing the same 'ole people to fill the positions on the boards? We need new blood. I don't mean the BOA, I am talking the park board P&Z,ect. Come on mayor quit putting your buddies on there. Go out and meet new people and stop hanging with your cronies and only appointing them. This is a city full of people who you haven't met.
I agree with the 50 percent, especially with the flooding and rains we've been having. Or maybe the parks can pay back some of the money it was stealing from storm water for 5 years. Or the mayor that serves on REAPs board that owes the city almost 30,000 dollars and hasn't paid for a decade maybe they can have a fundraiser and pay the city back. I mean the mayor is on the Board, so I guess maybe that's a conflict. I know they had expired fire extinguishers for almost 5 years and their exit signs didn't work and they got out of those violations somehow too. Wonder how that audit is going to play out...
My big question about the parks tax is why are we spending every meeting for 5 months killing the horse? The tax is good for another year and a half. Stop wasting time on it now, visit it in 6 months.
I agree parks need to pay the city back.
Also, we can wait it doesn't have to be jammed through this year. City staff already is trying to get moratorium to not do their job.
Watched the BOA meeting tonight (5/21).
How often do we have to repeat that the officer working at the library is working OFF DUTY and is being paid by the library.
Do you think he is on duty while he is there? This is what is called a "part-time job". I have a part-time job. Other folks have part-time jobs. This is not a new thing.
I am tired of the misinformation he puts out.
Once again your information is wrong 8:07!
1) no one was demoted
2) no ones pay was cut
3) they laid no one off. They were going to but then enough went to other police departments, trained at your expense, that no one had to be laid off. Facts are important.
One of us has the hours recorded and payroll records.
I'm going to guess it isn't you. In any event having a part time job while saying there isn't time to investigate serious crimes is a problem.
If you have this evidence, why haven’t you made it public? I think it’s because it either doesn’t exist or you’re misunderstanding what it actually means.
May is National Bike Month, and the third Friday of the month is Bike to Work Day, which encourages commuters to try biking as a healthy and safe alternative to driving. Communities around the country hold events to educate and motivate cyclists.
5:47 You are correct and you have the mayor, Jim Lynch and the FOP President to thank for that.
Poor leadership leads to expensive mistakes!
In typical Bill Van Buskirt style of having to have the last comment concerning the parks ballot issue he may have eclipsed his all time low. He would have you believe if you listen to him that he was the original architect of the eventual compromise Parks/Stormwater 75/25 sales tax split. You have to love archived council meetings on City Website though. Cause it was Van Buskirt who not so long ago was petitioning the board to go along with his 60/40 split. Good try BVB.
"having a part time job while saying there isn't time to investigate serious crimes is a problem."
Now we are dictating what someone can do with their own personal time?
Keep on with this agenda and more police officers are going to quit.
They are just now rebuilding and we need to keep that momentum going.
No, the board cutting $3 million dollars from the pd budget is why. They couldn’t keep people and we’re going to lay-off like 17 people. But a number similar of senior officers left to protect their futures so no one was laid off. The chief had no choice. The board slotted them for 39 positions so the traffic unit was gone, and the detective unit was cut to 4 detectives. And a bunch of OT being paid to cover shifts etc because the ones still there need vacations and do get sick.
Well 7:14 you do know a lot about the police budget. But the main thing is that the budget had to
be cut as the chief increased the budget instead of reducing it as the city could no longer deficit
spend to the tune of 2.7 million. When are we all going to understand that the budget had to be cut
The chief found it easier to just have a fire sale with all leaving instead of planning the new balance
of officers. Maybe this is why the chief resigned, oh right he retired. Why would you quit your job
with 2 years left to go unless, oh maybe there is something to hide.
But we have a mayor who still considers himself a cop. He just can not get over it.
It has been public for a year now, much the same as the sexual assault problems within the dept.
Records show 8 detectives in fact the lead detective sent an email to two acts under him that named multiple detectives and how they were screwing up. Once again, don't believe everything you hear. Officers are still listed as being assigned to a traffic division.
"But we have a mayor who still considers himself a cop. He just can not get over it."
It's not that he considers himself a "cop", as much as it is that he appears to pander non-stop to a handful of his compadres. Fortuitous that we recently elected a few people into office that will manage his behavior and keep him sidelined when necessary.
He couldn’t keep people past November 1st. So enough veteran officers went to other departments so no one had to be laid off. How else do you plan. There were only going to be so many positions.
No idea where you’re getting that misinformation. No traffic unit and 8 detectives, 2 sergeants and a captain would be a third of the current number of officers. Patrol is always the largest in any department because they work 24/7/365 with 16 officers. So keep spreading false information.
As for me and my house hold we believe the parks deserve no more than what they are currently getting, if that. They want a splash pad and a dog park, and of course to get that they need more MONEY.
Wrong. For instance CS was demoted from capt to Sgt as such was moved from salary to hourly and ended up with a pay raise. Then she was repromoted.
Jobs and rank are not exclusive. The investigations bearue had 2 detective sgts and a capt that also was supposed to be a detective.
Similar to how a patrol Sgt is part of patrol and also a Sgt. Nice try.
Being paid by the taxpayers is not personal time. Or at least it shouldn't be, but that thinking is how we got here. Between having a (now former) Chief that worked full time at hallmark while being chief, or taking a 3 month hiatus while being paid. Or a Sgt taking nearly 6 months of time to burn vacation before retiring.
He hired some back 3 days later... explain that. Payroll records are readily Avalible, remember.
And major raises. Salary lines have doubled while other cost have decreased and reserves added almost half a million dollars last year alone. And this year every month they track ahead on sales taxes, meaning a large reserve will only get larger meanwhile they want more money.
People in the jail because enough senior officers left. I guarantee I know more than you do about the pd.
Wow. There is a lot of knowledgeable people on police work here. We should have plenty of applicants for police chief position. This is exciting to see.
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