RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE
Priced Out . . .
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
The
story covers the escalating cost of housing in Johnson County, Kansas.
But
that is not the part Raytown homeowners should pay much attention too. What
should be given attention can be found on page 14A under the sub-heading . . . PROPERTY TAX IMPACT.
The
Raytown Board of Aldermen has given direction to the City Administrator to
prepare legislation that would double the property tax in Raytown on Real
Estate and on Personal Property. His report and legislation enabling a public
vote on the question is due in March.
Six
Board members endorsed the plan to move forward with the tax increase. So it is
almost a sure bet that come early August, Raytown voters will have the
opportunity to vote on the tax increase.
The
story in the Kansas City Star outlines the impact of the higher cost of homes
in Johnson County. The majority of the area has seen an increase in home
value(s) from 8% to 15%.
The
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE explains the cost increase for homeowners, even if they
do not sell their home.
For
instance, a 1950’s two bedroom ranch in Prairie Village saw an increase in
value from $176,000 to $212,000. As a result of the increased value of the
home, the property tax rose $262 to $2,882 annually.
Granted,
home values in the Raytown area are not has high as Johnson County. But the
fact remains that many people in Raytown are living in the homes they can
afford.
The
doubling of the Property Tax and Personal Property Tax will have the effect in
Raytown as the increased prices in Johnson County. People will be squeezed by
the increased cost of living. Some will not be able to afford it. They will be
forced to move on.
WHERE
ARE RAYTOWN HOME VALUES HEADED?
The question was posed to Ward 3 Alderman Ryan
Myers. Myers makes his living appraising property values for people in the real
estate industry. Most of his work is in commercial property. However, he
explained that the rise in commercial property value is often mirrored by a similar
increase in residential property values.
He
told the Raytown Report property values have seen an increase in the Raytown
area. Evidence of this has already been noted by many homeowners who saw the
value of their home in Raytown increase in the last waive of Jackson County
appraised property values.
The
fact remains that even if you do not participate in the housing market price
boom . . . you will still be paying the cost in increased property tax
valuations.
Raytown
homeowners should take note of what is happening to property tax rates across
the state line. It is only a matter of time before those rates spread across
the entire metropolitan area.
Paul’s
Rant!
Some interesting topics are making the rounds at Raytown City Hall. Here are a few examples:
THE
MAYOR MAKES THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE WARD 5 VACANCY AND IT IS DONE.
WRONG!
The Board of Aldermen has the final say on whether or not to accept the Mayor’s
appointment. The Board of Aldermen also has the final say on all appointments
to the Park Board as well.
IF THE MAYOR’S CHOICE TO FILL THE
UNFILLED TERM IN WARD 5 IS NOT APPROVED HE CAN CALL FOR SPECIAL ELECTION NEXT
AUGUST TO FILL THE SEAT.
WRONG
AGAIN! The Mayor may call for a special election to fill a vacant seat in the August
state election, but he will not get it. In Missouri, city elections are specifically
reserved for the April ballot. If he wanted a vote to fill the vacant Ward 5
seat, he had his opportunity in early February. That window of opportunity has
closed. The April election is already set. It is too late to add any more
issues to the ballot.
THE
WARD 5 SEAT IS NOT THE ONLY VACANCY
WAITING FOR THE MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT:
CORRECT:
There is a vacancy on the Park Board and on the Board of Zoning Adjustment
(BZA). The Park Board appointment would require Board approval. The BZA
appointment does not require Board approval.
RE-BUILDING
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Good
news for the men and women in blue. Their numbers are growing. By the end of
Tuesday’s night meeting there will have been four new uniformed officers sworn
in since the budget was approved last October. You can add two civilian Detention Technicians to man the
jail at Raytown Police headquarters. It appears the Department is
rebuilding . . . and staying within the guidelines set by the
City Council.
The
down-side is that during that same period the Department was over-budget by
about 10% in payroll expenses. This was due to shortage of manpower which
resulted in overtime costs. The new hires are expected to cut down overtime costs.
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Comments
The hysterical refrain of
"Just say NO to DOUBLING our taxes" is already being sounded.
Fake news at its fakest. The taxes are NOT in fact being doubled. Just the Raytown component.
But I am sure the blog's author knows that. So I wonder why he misrepresents it.
Sour grapes perhaps.
The City will NEVER have the resources to fix the 100 MILLION dollar backlog of infrastructure projects without additional funds. Are you blind?
Andy Whiteman
Are you going to pay the $30,000 to the state for the audit? No? Will the auditor be able to get back the squandered money? No, I didn't think so. Will putting the people who squandered the money in jail get it back? No, I didn't think so. What's your next suggestion?
Look at 59th st. The city needs to sue Neal Cleavenger of Raytown Water company for not fixing the street when the water line broke. The street is getting worse. The city doesn't have the codds to do it.
Raytown has no industry, rental & section 8 houses, payday loans, and a convenience/liquor store every half mile or so. What kind of people do you think that will draw into Raytown? Low income, retired fixed income people stuck here, renters, and you name it. We don't have a codes department. I look at houses going down Gregory to Raytown road, paint falling off houses, homes kept in dis repair, junk in yards just to name a few.
Raytown would be better off if Lee's Summit or Kansas City took them over.
That’s the backlog of street resurfacing, sewers, sidewalks, storm drains, bridges and other needs.
Gone round the barn on this “kc” or lees summit needs to take us over. Which assumes they want us....... Lees Summit does not want us. KCMO might, but that would mean all working residents would have to pay a 1% income tax. Nobody would want this but a retired person. It’s not going to happen.
You need to ask why in the month of Feb we have not had any of the required board of alderman meetings.
One meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum—members unable to make the meeting. The other meeting was cancelled due to weather. And the month of February is not over. Put the tinfoil hat away.
Sorry 3:36 is right and the only ones calling names are the ones that know they are breaking the law.
Instead of calling names read the law
Sec. 2-491. - Regularly scheduled board of aldermen meetings.
The board of aldermen shall meet regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the time and place established from time to time by the board. Regular meetings may be rescheduled by the majority of the board for good cause. Regular meetings will be rescheduled to the following Tuesday if the scheduled meeting falls on a national holiday or any election day.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/49927/
Makes you wonder about Raytown
Weather= good cause
Lack of quorum = good cause
Again. No laws were broken.
Then I contrast that with the 13 bullets that were pumped into the local boy who was backing a van out of his driveway and was not a threat to the officer who could have just stood aside.
Makes me wonder. Do I hate cops? heck no but sometimes I think the first responder hero worship is over the top.
Only good cause if true
I do believe as reported there was a quorum.
One could also believe the mayor by not filling positions is intentionally creating this issue.
Time for an audit; time for an investigation
12:52 pm
If a cop orders you to stop, and you don't, then it's your fault if you get shot.
I think that kid wanted to die by suicide by cop.
Parents--TALK TO YOUR KIDS! GET YOUR EYES OUT OF THE PHONE and onto your family. Even at the gym people are engrossed in their phones. What is so darn important you can't turn your phone off for an hour?
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