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Taxes, Taxes!
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
The agenda had not one, not
two, but three tax increase proposals for voters to decide on the August 7th ballot.
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE:
First
item up was the proposed property tax increase Raytowners will vote on August 7th. During his presentation,
City Administrator Tom Cole said if the tax was approved, the property tax rate
on Raytown homes and businesses would go from .34 cents per $100 dollar
valuation to $1.00 per $100 dollar valuation. The property tax increase would
also apply to personal property (automobiles, boats, trailers, etc.). Previous
information from city hall had pegged the increase at 50 cents. For more
information see Paul’s Rant entitled “SNEAKY . . . SNEAKY!!!”
INTERNET SALES TAX: The
surprise of the evening was a proposed Internet Sales Tax of 2.5% which is also
planned for the August 6th
ballot. The tax would apply to ALL internet sales placed in Raytown. The
increase will cost internet shoppers 2.5 cents per dollar on all purchases.
GASOLINE TAX: A proposed two cent per
gallon gasoline tax is also slated for the August 7th ballot. This issue brought
some enlightening debate from Aldermen Bill VanBuskirk, Ryan Myers and Bonnaye
Mims. The discussion revealed Missouri State officials have asked local
municipalities to not hold elections on the two cent a gallon gasoline tax
until after Missouri puts a 7 to 14 cent gasoline tax on ballot in November of
2018. State officials have warned the local 2 cent gasoline tax and the 7 to 14
cent state tax may be in conflict in how the revenue from the tax is divided.
In other words, promises made
by local officials on how the tax is divided could be void if the state
gasoline tax wins voter approval.
Paul’s Rant
BY PAUL LIVIUS
FLUFFY BUNNY TALK
If I live to be a very old
man I hope to make it to a time where politicians quit what I call the Fluffy
Bunny Talk.
Fluffy Bunny Talk is the time
wasting practice of over-stating obvious positions instead of using the time in
intelligent and informative debate.
You can see this practice
most often on CNN, MSNBC and FOX News. Usually they are delivered with serious
expression, often times with a smile that looks painful.
 |
| THE FLUFFY BUNNY |
One of her seatmates on the
Board followed Black’s comment with some Fluffy Bunny Talk when he said he wanted
to “ . . . echo Alderman Black’s comments".
Did he really think the
audience had forgotten what she had just said?
Oh well . . . .
SNEAKY . . . SNEAKY!!!
Greg can usually see the end game
in what politicians are trying to accomplish. But he did have a fast one pulled
on him by some city officials regarding the extremely high property tax voters
will be voting on August 7th.
When we broke the news last
January about the Board’s intent to “increase” the property tax on Raytown
homes and businesses, we wanted to be sure we were 100% accurate.
So Greg was tasked with
talking to city officials to get the dirty low down. The numbers were confirmed in
writing via email to Greg that the city’s property tax would double from 50
cents to $1.00 per $100 dollars valuation.
What was not told was that
the Raytown Park Department property tax would increase as well. Sneaky,
sneaky!!! We have been fooled once on this issue. We will not be fooled again.
BAIT AND
SWITCH
In the automobile business
the tactic is called bait and switch. A prospective car buyer is lured by the
full package of a new automobile. The buyer finds he cannot afford it so the
car dealer sells a lesser equipped model at a higher profit.
In this case, the lure is
over-simplifying the amount of property tax Raytowners will pay.
The Mayor and Board members
are complicit as well. They have never brought up the fact of the hidden tax
property tax increase for Raytown Parks during discussion at public meetings.
Instead, the public is softly hammered with a lot fluffy bunny talk that
sugar-coats the issue and leaves out real discussion on how much it will cost
taxpayers.
Truth Watch
PANTS ON
FIRE
Ward 4 Alderman Steve Meyers
is fond of referring to what he calls “pants on fire” moments. There was one at
the last meeting during Public Comments.
Former Ward 5 Alderman
candidate Diane Krizek showed up to clarify her desire to be appointed to a
vacant Ward 5 seat on the Board of Aldermen. Krizek lost her election to Ward 5
Alderman Bonnaye Mims by five votes. Mims has gone on record saying she
believes Krizek should be asked to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat.
In her comments Krizek said
the Mayor had not asked her to fill the position. She also said she has heard
the Mayor has told others he did
ask her to fill the position.
We believe Krizek when she
says the Mayor has not asked her.
But we cannot confirm
Krizec’s allegation the Mayor has been telling others he did ask her.
We wonder if this is what
Alderman Meyers calls a “pants on fire moment”?
You can use the following
link to view Krizek’s comments. Go to the Public Comments section of the
meeting. Last Tuesday’s Public Comments was, to say the least, interesting. You
may want to view the entire length. The section lasts only 20 minutes. Krizek’s
speech is at the tail end of Public Comments.
LYING BY
OMMISSION
PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX IS A 195%
INCREASE
Last January we reported the
proposed property tax would double city’s property tax. In a
report given by City Administrator Tom Cole at last Tuesday’s meeting we
learned the increase is actually 195% increase.
We call this tactic “Lying by
Omission”.
Greg was not told anything that
was not true. But a key element was left out when the Park Board
Property Tax was not included in the information. That information amounted to
an additional 15.1% property tax increase. Bringing the total of the tax
increase burden to 65.1% . . . not 50%.
PANTS ON FIRE (part 2)
Tuesday night was City Finance Director
Briana Burrichter’s last
meeting. Board members took some time to formally thank Ms. Burrichter for her service to the
city.
A local political gadfly and frequent
speaker at public comments, Tony Jacobs, posted on a local Facebook page,
Raytown Unleashed, an accusation that Ward 4 Alderman Bill VanBuskirk referred
to Ms. Burrichter as “sweetheart”.
It was not long before two other Facebook posts turned up making the same
claim.
VanBuskirk adamantly denied the
accusation.
VanBuskirk called Tony Jacobs
and demanded a public apology. Tony wrote an apology (sort of) saying he had to
diffuse the situation and gave VanBuskirk a public apology on Facebook. Jacobs
wrote he mis-heard the end of VanBuskirk’s comments.
Raytown Unleashed
Administrator, Susan Brown Vorbeck, removed the offending comments from the
Facebook page. She was right to do so.
That last little dig by
Jacobs about having to diffuse the situation was uncalled for and not true.
Greg, who has known Bill VanBuskirk for over 30 years said, “I don’t think I
have ever heard Bill do so much as raise his voice in anger . . . ever”.
Shame on you Tony. Some say
you plan to run for Alderman some day. If that is your plan, we suggest you
clean up your act before you file.
The Paul Livius Report
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
Raytown
Board of Aldermen Meeting
March 20, 2018
Mr. Andy Perez spoke on behalf of
Walmart employees who live and work in Raytown. He represents a national
organization that has been investigating the burden Walmart places on local
municipal police. He stated the Walmart location in Raytown averages over 800
calls for police service each year. He said some communities in America
have begun charging Walmart for
exceeding emergency calls and suggested Raytown could earn some much needed
revenue from passing similar laws in Raytown. He questioned why Raytown police
cars are parked at the Walmart Store on 350 Highway an average of 18 hours a
day.
Tony Jacobs said he attended the
Park Board meeting the day before. He urged the Board members to attend a Park
board meeting. He thinks they will learn a lot.
Diane Krizek said she found out she
has been the subject of discussion for the position of the vacant Ward 5 seat.
She said no one approached her, but she found out when Mayor McDonough called
her and said The Raytown Report carried a story by Greg Walters in which he had
written some very complementary things about her on his blog. She said the
Mayor said he respects her. But continued to say she has not received an answer
to why he has not asked her to fill the post.
Ms. Krizek continued, “Folks have
been telling me he (the Mayor) has been telling he did (ask her).”
The Board passed an ordinance
vacating a portion of 75th Street located between the East right-of-way line of
Raytown Road and the West property line. Mitch DiCarlo, on behalf of Raytown Wash
LLC, is requesting approval of a right-of-way vacation. The applicant is
requesting to vacate right-of-way on 75th Street between Raytown Road and
westbound MO-350 Highway. The request to vacate 75th Street is a condition
placed on the Conditional Use Permit for the future Tidal Wave Car Wash located
to the north of the existing right-of-way. The right-of-way to be vacated is
approximately 232 feet long and 45 feet wide. Written consent to vacate has
been received by 2/3 of adjacent property owners. Notices for Consent to Vacate
have been provided by the following adjacent property owners: FJM Distributing
Company LP, Raytown Wash LLC, and Raytown Auto
Developers LLC. Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L), KC Water, Public Water
Supply District #2, AT&T, and Spire (formerly MGE) have all waived
objections subject to retaining their utility easements and protection of
existing facilities.
The Board heard the first reading of
an ordinance calling an election in the city of Raytown to be held on the 7th
day of August, 2018 for the purpose of submitting a question to the qualified
voters of the city of Raytown to increase the general property tax rate 65.1% for all
subclasses of property from .67 cents to $1.00 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation
in compliance with state law.
Tom Cole told the Board the City has
been relying on General Fund Reserves for several years to supplement
Operational Costs. The City Reserves were never intended to be used to support
operational costs, as those funds should only be used for emergency
stabilization or one-time opportunities. An adoption of this ordinance is
necessary to increase the City’s tax base through a voter approved increase in
the City’s property tax levy. Alderman Black said no one likes taxes, but this is something we really
need to do and it is up to the residents to accept or reject the tax. Alderman
Jim Aziere suggested one way to raise more money is to have the County reassess
the homes in Raytown and raise the values.
The Board heard the first reading of
an ordinance directing the submission at the primary election to be held on
August 7, 2018 to the qualified voters of Raytown the question of whether the
city shall impose a motor fuel fee to be used to fund the construction,
reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and signing of roads and streets at the
rate of two cents per gallon to be imposed on all merchants for the sale of
fuel. Tom Cole said the city can expect to collect around $200,000 annually.
All the money collected must go to maintain streets, per state law.
The Board heard the first reading of
an ordinance imposing a use tax at the rate of two and one-half percent on
tangible personal property, directing the submission at the primary election to
be held on August 7, 2018 by the qualified voters of Raytown. Tom Cole said the
main problem is that Raytown shares two zip codes with Kansas City. It will be
difficult to decide how the money gets to Raytown instead of Kansas City. It is
the same tax consumers pay if they walked into a brick and mortar store.
The Board passed a resolution
supporting the Mayor’s ad hoc event committee in their efforts to organize a
summer concert series on the city’s greenspace in the central business
district. The concerts would be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday
evenings of May 12th, June 9th, July 14th, August 11th, and
September 9th. These concerts would be free to the public. All expenses
associated with the concert series would be paid from funds provided by
sponsors and donations. This is a plan to bring free entertainment downtown for
our residents.
The Board passed a resolution
amending the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget related to Parks and Raytown Live
events. On February 19, 2018 the Park Board approved a resolution to request
approval of a budget amendment to increase Raytown Live – Donations $10,000.00
and increase Recreation Programs Expenses $10,000.00 for additional expenses to
support Raytown Live events.
The Board passed a resolution
amending the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget related to parks and the arts &
music festival. On March 19, 2018 the Park Board approved a resolution to
request approval of a budget amendment to transfer $10,000.00 from revenue
appropriated for fiscal year 2017-2018 from Team Sports League (Arts &
Music Festival) to Donations. The Board passed a resolution approving an
agreement with Brad Taylor, Inc. for mowing services in an amount not to exceed
$25,000.
The Parks and Recreation
Department received four sealed bids that were opened on March 1. Brad Taylor,
Inc. is the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder with a base bid of
$23,936.00 and is being recommended for approval. The Parks Department will
have the contractor mow five parks. Each location will be paid per the contract
unit costs. The number of times each area is mowed will depend on weather
conditions. During Fiscal Year 2013-14, $16,810.00 was spent by the Parks and
Recreation Dept. During Fiscal Year 2014-15, $17,950.00 was spent by the Parks and Recreation Dept. During Fiscal Year 2015-16, $13,275.00 was spent by the
Parks and Recreation Dept. During Fiscal Year 2016-17, $16,381.00 was spent
by the Parks and Recreation Dept. The request is to make an approved amount
to spend $25,000.00, which is equal the budgeted amount.
91 comments:
There is sometimes a Jackson County Sheriff's vehicle parked at Wal-Mart as well.
Why aren't folks complaining about that?
Regarding the youth march to stop gun violence:
I think they will accomplish much. However, this is much more than a gun problem. It is a mental health problem too.
How often do we say so and so has a "screw loose". It is still OK to make fun of mental illness. You don't make fun of a cancer victim, do you? Same thing.
Until we can stop the derogatory talk about mental illness nothing will change. I imagine lots of folks are scared to get help because of how they will be perceived. Not to mention the waiting list is too long for a mental health bed.
It's too bad there isn't a Susan G Komen fund for mental health. Funding is badly needed.
Also, schools need to take action on bullies. Often we read of a child being bullied and their school does nothing to stop it.
Also I don't understand how you can live in the same house or apt and not know your child or roommate is stockpiling ammo and weapons. Do we not talk to each other anymore?
All these issues are related, IMHO. It's time for a wake-up call.
12:59 I can think of two good reasons
1st: The officers are provided a car at all times
2nd: Jackson County didn't give away the farm like former Mayor Sue Frank who husband got a real nice promotion under her watch as a police officer.
It is not a gun problem. I can put one of the several guns I might or might not own, on any surface and they won’t hurt a flea. They will continue to sit there. It takes a person with a cold heart, mental issues etc to to take a gun and use it on defenseless people.
Retired LEO
The board has offered several choices for the taxpayers to raise revenue for the City. Nothing wrong with that. The voters will decide. And if these proposals fail guess what? We have only ourselves to blame, because this is an opportunity to improve the City. My favorite tax is the gas tax and the internet sales tax. These cause the least amount of pain and are consumption taxes. Not everybody buys items online. And gas is more expensive in Lees Summit. Even with the .2 cent tax it may still be cheaper here after the dust settles. I am not in favor of the parks tax. The property tax I am considering. Have yet to hear from anybody how we fix infrastructure without going into debt.
So it's OK for Jax County to have officers and cars at Wal-Mart, but not OK for Raytown?
Don't get the logic there.
Anti RPD logic on this site. Lol
Maybe it is because taxpayers in Raytown think that local officials may be a little more responsive to them. Be fair about it. Most of the off duty police working at Raytown are Raytown police. Let's see if we can get that straightened out first. I do not know about you, but I do not like the idea that we are underwriting one of the richest corporations in America. It simply does not make sense. If Walmart were to pay for the use of the cars, pro-rate the insurance, gasoline, wear and tear, I could see and understand that. But just giving it to them is plainly not right.
To 6:16, by them having a car, they are able to transport an arrest if onduty officers are tied up. Also allows them to respond to calls in Raytown if need be. I don’t see what the hang up is. They drive to WalMart, then, if not required to respond to call in Raytown or transport, then they drive back to station. It’s not that hard to understand.
When will we see students marching for personal liberty and protection of freedom?
We are currently seeing the Second Amendment being attacked and at the same time, the First Amendment is being destroyed by those who demand freedom of speech while denying the same to those with whom they disagree.
8:58 pm
College campuses are especially bad. They shut down conservative speakers and all the talk about "safe spaces" is ridiculous.
It's time for the snowflakes to grow up and professors to realize there are other viewpoints in the world.
Sounds like Walmart needs to be paying about $100 an hour to the general fund for every hour a police car is up at Walmart for someone to work off duty.
The car is NOT servicing anyone, but Walmart and is property of the citizens of Raytown so it is past time for them to pay up!
I heard it is something like 18 hrs each day.
1,800 X 365 = $657,000 a year
That sounds like a fix for our short fall!
Nearly everyone on this site hates the Raytown police. Been that way for 15 years. Think I’m exaggerating? Just go back and read the comments-such hate, jealousy and vitriol
It’s good to see our youth take an informed thoughtful stance on something important
Who is tony Jacobs and why does he feel that he may speak for us to the news? Stop it, you’re embarrassing us and yourself
Totally agree 8:58!
It's turning into mob rule.
Once again, and please read this carefully, I do not have a problem with a police car being at Walmart. Provided Walmart is paying for it. The situation now is that Walmart is getting the car for free. It is getting the maintenance on the vehicle for free, it is getting any insurance for free, it is getting the fuel to run the car for free.
We should not be underwriting one of the largest corporations in America.
That guy who spoke at the beginning of the meeting has a pretty good handle on the Walmart security problem. The mayor is wrong to say it is just an issue between Walmart and a union. It is our problem. Ignoring it will not make it go away. The Mayor and BOA should get to work and address the problem. Maybe, just maybe, the guy who spoke at the last meeting may have a workable idea in requiring Walmart to shoulder the cost of policing its store.
🤣🤣🤣🤣. The car sits there, not running. So if the officer working there has to go to a situation for the city, you want the city reimbursing the WalMart for the money you want them to pay? Sounds redundant to me.
Your math is horrible
18 hours a day for 365 days is 18x365 is $6,570.00
Damn good thing you are not in charge of the city coffers if I was you I would give your check book to your wife.
hahahaha
That “guy” was a paid union hack from DC.
Let them deal with their unionization with the employees at Walmart and leave the city and PD out of it !
All you have to do is go google some of the stuff and you’ll see that this is their mantra nation wide
6:10 pm
Yes I agree.
If they would have taken the citizen's police academy like I had suggested they might feel differently about our police dept.
ALERT.....COMING THIS FALL...to the Raytown library....another edition of the citizen's police academy featuring our wonderful police officers. Stay tuned for exciting updates regarding this free, annual event.
This so tiresome. Is there any limit to the amount of knee bending some of you will do to the walmart gods? You are giving your product away when you give them, free of charge, city equipment for use. Walmart should pay for it just like they would pay any would any other private security firm. I do not know why Lynch has this ridiculous free policy for walmart. If he can make a reasonable argument for allowinig city equipment for free I have not heard it.
By the way. For those who enjoy slandering people by calling them cop haters, etc. Get real. Just because someone wants constructive changed does not make them a hater.
However, those who spend so much of their resorting to the bully boy tactics of calling names and other slanderous comments may very will deserve the moniker of a hater.
3/26 10:33 PM
Before you laugh at someone else's math, check your own. You only calculated the total number of hours and didn't include a rate per hour. The person that came up with the $657K figure applied a rate of $100 per hour. You can challenge the number of hours or the rate per hour but that person's math checks out perfectly.
I totally agree Jacobs is a total embarrassment to the city. He jammers on and on like he knows what he is talking about and in reality he doesn't have a clue.
6:10 PM, Unfortunately you are correct, but there are some who feel RPD is doing an excellent job! I have worked in law enforcement and lived in many jurisdictions, IMHO RPD is the best managed deportment that I have observed. They have made arrests in cases that many would think unsolvable such as the brutal murder of a Christian minister and his wife in their home based business on 63rd Street!
Andy Whiteman
10:33 Your math only works if the rate for a police vehicle is $1.00 an hour. At $100/hr. the 657,000 figure is correct. I suggest you have your wife proofread your posts for mistakes before you do a gotcha on someone else.
The bottom line is that Raytown assets (police car and equipment) is being used to provide Walmart with a Big Dog in their front yard to scare potential criminals away.
If you take time to watch the video of the BOA meeting, Walmart is also protesting its taxes, resulting in the county placing a hold on about $350,000 that is Raytowns share.
9:29 am
Probably a post from the political establishment in Raytown.... He is one of the few residents of Raytown willing to stand up to the political establishment that has failed. It is a sad commentary that so few care. The two party system in Raytown is ruining this City just like it ruins everything in America. It’s all about control not results, and the taxpayer suffers.
The mayors state of the city address was just what I figured it would be, full of bull stuff. He tried to tell us what the job of a mayor is and what the job a policeman is. Mr. Mayor we all know it's YOU who doesn't know, or understand. You threw the alderman under the bus and now one on the board has any respect for you. OMG do the city a favor don't run for another term.
Was the paid political hack from Washington DC the same as the paid political hack from Lee's Summmit. Seems they were both cut from the same cloth. They just have different agendas.
It's perfectly fine if you don't like Tony.
However, he is willing to stand up and give his name and his viewpoints which is admirable.
Most folks on here do not give their names, and they are then able to slam people anonymously.
Andy - You've been away too long. the RPD did not solve the Caylors' murders. The Metropolitan Task Force did. The RPD does not have the labs and investigative equipment necessary to solve this type of crime.
To clarify my usage at the BOA meetings of the unfortunate but ever increasingly popular phrase “Pants on Fire” thought I’d send you out it’s normal intended purpose along with some general information. “Pants on Fire” description is used when an unexpected and unbudgeted emergency infrastructure sinkhole or storm sewer collapse occurs within our City. The process starts with our Public Works Director explaining the unplanned repair to the Board and then requesting usually a sizeable release of emergency repair funds from the diminishing General Fund balance. Then an unfortunate and regrettable unanimous vote is taken to approve this emergency repair.
If you hear me saying it more and more often that is because these infrastructure emergency repairs are occurring at a more rapid and alarming pace THAN EVER. Previous administrations allocated budgets of $25,000 towards these imminent expenses with usually the 1st repair request coming a mere month into the budget with a 50k initial “Pants on Fire” unplanned repair. There is now 200k allocated towards these unforeseen infrastructure repairs. With the budget approved in November and only 6 months into the budget year we have already almost used the 200k budget forecast of these repairs.
In the coming months you will hear me along with other community stakeholders stressing the need to address our aging and failing infrastructure needs. They aren’t going away folks. They are surfacing like zombies at an ever increasing and alarming rate. If you wonder why the BOA held tight to a strict balanced budget last fall it is because the clock is ticking on a serious infrastructure failure and we will need quite possibly a large dip into the General Fund reserves to address it. To not acknowledge the great chance of that occurring is not being realistic in approaching the fudiciary responsobility the members of the Board are sworn to perform.
Ok this note took on a life of it’s own and I’ll close it down. In the coming months before the Tax iniative is placed before the citizen’s of Raytown ask some questions and decide for yourself if your leadership group is addressing the long term needs that are so necessary and presently underfunded. Nothing would make me more pleased to shut down my usage of “Pants on Fire” and follow a detailed plan of projects that are sufficiently funded with a common sense approach.
Have a great week,
Steve Meyers,
Alderman Ward 4
The Walmart comments are interesting. Why do I get the feeling that if the Chief of Police were to decide to not allow Walmart free use of public property a lot of people who wrote about what a good idea it is to give one of America's largest corporations free use of public property would change their tune?
Did some checking around. Once again, Raytown is the only city that has a policy of giving public equipment to Walmart free of charge.
It reminds me of the proud mother who seeing her son in the marching band said, "look at my little Johnny! He is the only one who is in step. Why don't the other children keep time with him as they march?
Giving free publicly owned equipment to some and not to others is a bad idea. It has the smell of favoritism and may very well be illegal.
Before you get all bent out of shape. There would be nothing wrong with charging for using the public's equipment. Why isn't that idea explored?
Wrong Pete!
The Metro Squad was called in as they often are to help cover leads quickly on these types of cases with the host agency, and then the case is handed back entirely to the host agency ie: Raytown PD
All area PD use the regional crime lab. It’s not like TV Pete where CSI comes in and solves it all. The leads still have to be put together and and interviews done and all bases covered
Excellent team work by Raytown PD and Metro Squad members.
Signed former Metro Squad member
6:41,
Then you better be willing to cut WalMart a check whenever that vehicle/officer is called away from to assist with city calls. You all are being ridiculous. The car sits there in the parking lot 99% of the time, not running, not burning fuel, etc. Get a grip and move on.
The following is re-printed from the Kansas City Star.
As Raytown city leaders and police officials wrestle with cutting more than $3 million from the police budget — and eliminating as many as 17 officers — they are seizing upon a particular burden on police: Walmart.
In a city of about 10 square miles officers made MORE THAN 500 ARRESTS LAST YEAR at the Walmart store at 10300 E. U.S. 350. THE STORE IS THE SCENE OF ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF RAYTOWN'S REPORTED SERIOUS CRIMES.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article175722651.html#storylink=cpy
Well said Steve Meyers! So many are in denial about infrastructure and the finances of the City. Too much game playing going on. Reality is here folks. But anyone that tells the truth gets criticized for it.
There is a drive-in located at 50 HY and Laurel. The trash that is along the curb of the drive-in is
terrible, you would think that they would care how there location looks. Once a day their employees
could clean up the area around them and maybe make Raytown look just a little bit better. {sonic}
Thank you
But you have to take care of employees as well. To cut employees and not give well deserved raises, will kill this city. The employees that have been there haven’t seen significant raises in a very long time and insurance costs etc continue to go up so the employees continue to up, therefore they make less and less money. So glad I was able to retire and be done with the city.
I know what you mean. The denial of a bad situation is a major problem. The city cannot afford to paint traffic lanes on its streets. It cannot properly repair streets. But it does have the money to pay retirement benefits of up to 130% of the regular pay for upper brass on the p.d. The BOA deserves credit for stopping some of the give-aways in the police department like the free us of police cars for most of its staff. But they are dropping the ball on reeling in the abuse of overtime.
The fact that the steady stream anti-law enforcement comments are approved by the moderator is telling.
I support the Raytown PD. Not sure why I even come to this blog.
@8:52
I was agreeing with you to a point. Until you stated 130% of regular pay. Would you please explain this statement? Please keep in mind, I know SOME officers have two pensions. One pension is frozen and does not earn more benefits and the new pension covers the years served after the old pension was discontinued. Please explain.
Not abuse, just reality due to poor management by the boa. There are minimum manpower rules that are being violated due to boards dumb decisions. They’ve been lucky so far that an officer hasn’t been hurt or killed. Do you not watch the news and see what is happening to law enforcement?
9:24 pm
Please don't stop coming to this blog!! RPD supporters are needed now more than ever. We can change minds and hearts if we persevere.
8:52 pm
Some officers have been working 50-60 hours a week to make up for the officer shortage. I bet you would pay all the OT in the world if it were you or your your family that needed them ASAP.
Entertainment!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
We are stuck one way or the other with Wal-Mart, If they would shut the doors then Raytown would
be in severe trouble.e. We are in trouble now but it could be very severe as I see it. Kind of like Dam
if you do and Dam if you don"t.
We just have to get used to driving on bad roads for some time. I think that will be with us for some time.
The Board of alderman does manage the police department. The Chief of Police does. ALL of the management decisions in the Raytown police Department are made by the Chief of Police. The Board of Aldermen sets the budget for the entire city. Not just the police department. You guys have to quit demonizing everything the Board does. They have made some tough decisions to keep our city solvent. Patrolmen working 50 t0 60 hours a week? Not believing it. Show us the numbers.
Hey! Are there any nominations for the Fluffy Bunny Award?
Those numbers don’t surprise me.
Here is the education about law enforcement that you all apparently need. If an officer is about to get off work I let’s say 30-45 minutes. If a serious crime call comes in, whether it be a homicide, rape, assault, robbery or burglary, that officer has to complete the report before he/she goes home for the night. Therefore overtime is involved. Because they can’t just blow the reportnoff until they come back in in the next couple of days. If it’s a callout type scene, where detectives will be needed, that’s even more overtime for the Pd. Used to be that way for serious crashes but there is no longer an accident investigation unit due to no manpower. Not hard to accumulate overtime. Then if you have to go to court on a day off or after you get off, more ot. If you think officers like working ot, you’re nuts. They have families too that they want to spend time with. So how about you know what you’re talking about before you criticize the Pd. It’s not a Monday through Friday 8-5 career. It’s 24/7 365 days a year.
7:36 pm
I know folks who work at the RPD and don't know why they would lie about something like that.
The proof is at the city payroll department. Or speak with an officer and ask them...I'm sure they will give you the scoop.
Sir/Madam...you've just proven the point that the post at 9:24 pm on 3/28 was making.
8:47 pm
Great post.
Are you LEO?? If so, thank you for your service.
I remember last summer watching a meeting of the Aldermen when the city budget was being worked on. Jim Lynch showed up with close to a dozen officers at a meeting in which he was to give his budget requests. Alderman Karen Black asked if they were all being paid overtime. She did not get an answer from any of the officers that night. But in the next week nearly all of them went up to the Finance Department to get their time cards back so they could ADJUST their time sheet reports! I have been told they removed the so-called overtime they allegedly worked at that budget session.
All the other department heads would show up and give their requests. Lynch shows up with an army of officers, some of who did not even speak at the meeting. It was classic example of a failed attempt of intimidation. Some would call it bully tactics. I was never so proud of the Board and especially Black who, through their actions, gave a unified NO MORE to Lynch and his tactics.
Do officers deserve to be paid overtime? Sure they do. But they are not the only ones in this town who work long hours. The shrill comments and the call to arms to protect the p.d. is way over-stated. Some of you paint a picture of people hating who do not hate.
Please stop it. You are creating a false image for Raytown to be judged by. Your bias is tainting your judgement.
I am so tired of hearing about the poor policeman. They took on this profession knowing the risks and work hours. sorry no sympathy here.
"Your bias is tainting your judgement."
More anti-cop bias here than pro-cop bias it seems to a lot of folks.
March 26, 2018 at 10:33 PM,
Please don't don't be like the mayor, city marshal or Tony Jacobs and stops being an embarrassment to the city and yourself.
If you would slow down and not be so quick to attack others like the Mayor has done at Board of Alderman meetings you might have caught an important piece in how to make $657,000 a year from Walmart.
You are correct that 18hr times 365 days is 6,570 hours.
Your were quick and trying to deceive everyone like the mayor and city marshal because you did not take the total hours times the $100 per hour fee.
6,570 hours (total hours for the year) times $100 per hour fee for the police car equals $657,000 annually.
It is time to be an adult and admit you are wrong and think the other blogger for coming up with a way to help fund city services like the police department.
From listening to the last Board of Alderman meeting it is clear the city doesn't want to be transparent and therefore has NOT been responding to request for information that would validate some of the concerns with the police department.
Sounds like someone is still wearing his badge and using it to cover up the truth.
That form of government is only acceptable in countries like Russia and North Korea, which should have us all concerned about our mayor's actions!
Thanks. Retired, thankfully.
7:45 am
Not sure who has asked for sympathy but it wasn't the cops.
Perhaps you have confused this blog with another blog.
And when you need them you can just save yourself then?
9:25 am
What a wild stretch of the imagination you have.
How are you going to justify charging $100 an hour for a vehicle that is sitting, not running, in front of WalMart? I have to hear this justification!! Hope you’re ready to reimburse them if Officer has to help on the streets.
9:24 here again..
There's some good commentary here...even from the anti-PD people. In reality none of this complaining matters. We vote, then we watch and wait. Agendas are what they are and if you don't agree with the incumbent you vote them out and try again. There will always be a gallery of people who agree and disagree - especially with an anonymous platform.
This will be my last visit here, but all dramatics aside, it's been an insightful read into this little pocket of Raytown. Thank you!
9:25- wow more of one particular union trying to drag the city into their battle with Walmart
Who is his one sentence wonder? Raytown's version of Donald Trump? How about some meaningful discussion instead of one liners that say very little except to the type of character that is typing them? Come on guy. This is not facebook. You can say a heck of a lot more here.
$230,000 in annual salaries from Walmart to the local off duty police
230,000 reasons a retired police officer doesn't want the board of Alderman placing ordinances on Walmart
9:57 pm
Nooooooooooooooooo!!
Don't go! :(
I was out shopping today and noticed T13 ladder fire truck at the HyVee on 40 highway shopping.
I understand we all need food to eat, but do they really need to park in the fire line when they are doing their shopping.
Do union workers believe they are special and can park where even and when ever they want!
9:48 am
They probably parked there so they could make a quick getaway if they were called to an emergency.
I don't think it is a union thing--it's a life-saving thing!
Have a wonderful Easter everyone!
Maybe if you paid them more, they wouldn’t have to work extra time on their time off.
And it’s not just pay, but crappy benefits too.
I just want to know where the Public Safety sales tax money went. Where are all the new officers, where is the three new dispatchers, where are the additional paramedics. This was almost a 80% increase in the amount of sales tax the City collects and yet almost none of the promises made were kept. Now the City wants to start taxing purchases I make on line? What’s next do they want to start taxing purchases I make in other cities? News flash mayor, board and marshal, account for the money you get now, before you come asking for more. Your 100% property tax increase is going to fail and that is a promise. The gas tax is going to pass, but that’s just because people are going to start buying gas elsewhere. The internet sales tax is a joke and will be the biggest defeat in Raytown’s history. Better just get used to it guys until you atone for all your past misdealings.
9:48 am
They park in the fire lane so they can get in and out quick. They could recieve a call and every second counts.
KCMO Union making all union workers look bad.
If they are that lazy and the driver cannot stay with the unit in the parking lot they need to retire.
Your board cut them when they cut almost 3 million from the Pd budget.
5:08 pm
What??????????
And......if there was an emergency where they are stopped at they are already there DUH 🙄
3:24 pm
The property tax could fail. I must admit that. The gas tax is too small to cause damage. 20 gallons = .40 cents. People who are wise know that time is more valuable than money. You are advocating that folks are going to drive an extra mile to save a few dimes. That’s a difficult argument to make. Gas costs more in Lee’s Summit right now. The internet tax will probably pass. Most seniors do not internet shop, and seniors show up at the polls. It will pass. You dislike taxation. We get it. I don’t know why Raytown needs to suffer because you want to settle a score.
We don't necessarily dislike taxation. We dislike taxation without accountability. We have no idea if the city is behaving responsibly with the tax dollars they already collect, because there has been no independent audit. We also have no idea how the city will behave with all the new tax dollars so many want to throw at the city.
First the Board did not cut the budget by 3 million, that is a lie started by the chief, second over 800,000 dollars of the reduction was from removing 7+ positions that had been vacant for several years and the money spent elsewhere. As for you comment about my like of taxation you couldn’t be more wrong. I welcome paying taxes that actually go where they are supposed to. What I am against is being lied too and manipulated into giving them more money to be wasted. Don’t believe me the next time you see the mayor or an Aldermen ask them what is the most pressing issue and where the new funding will go. The mayor will openly tell you all of the new revenue will go to the police department and the Aldermen will tell you a portion will go to the police as well as addressing the public works infrastructure needs. Who are we supposed to believe? Myself I tend to believe the man who started his state of the city address with a lecture explaining that he is a cop first. This whole deal is just another grab by the City. There is an old tactic in politics, “ if you want to pass something on the ballot box, take it away first”. That’s all this has ever been and that’s all this will ever be.
I for one will not for ANY NEW TAXES!!!!
The small business (what's left of them) property taxes will go up if they own their property or the landlord will raise the rent. That will surely run the "mom and pops" out of Raytown that has supported the city all these years. THANK YOU Mayor and Board of Aldermen!!!!!!!!!
2.7 million is pretty close to 3. Anti-police people better be prepared for whatever service they get and better not complain about it.
8:52
Gas has been around 15 cents cheaper the past several days just to the North of Raytown, which is really not that far of a drive.
Normally it is 5 cents so much for the Lee Summit aguement
3:30 pm
I would think you would approve of the Internet tax if you are worried about small business.
I thought the note earlier on this blog thread by Alderman Steve Meyers was pretty clear about the most pressing need in regards to where the board would look to fund failing infrastructure in the city with passage of the property tax ballot issue. Not that some revenue wouldn’t make it to the PD, but a cash grab? Don’t see it happening from this council group.
And that is not a new text that’s just wanting the city to collect the taxes from Internet purchases that everybody else has to pay if they have a brick-and-mortar store
Hey Peter Weber you don't know what you're talking about. You make it sound as if Raytown had no part in solving the Caylor murders. In fact Raytown Detectives were involved as members of the Metro Squad. Raytown Detectives also participate in Metro Squad investigations in other jurisdictions as well. Maybe you should get your facts straight before you run your mouth. I am a former Metro Squad member. Unlike you I know what I'm talking about.
Not anti police...anti fraud, anti propaganda and anti hidden agendas. This is why the Marshal and the Mayor supported a former Major who demanded three years pay a severance package. This is why the Marshal insisted on raises to the command staff after was told to submit a flat budget. This is why the Mayor keeps reminding us he’s a cop first and a Mayor second.
Anonymous 3:30 pm said.....
I don't get much sales at all from the Internet. Everybody buys their parts from Amazon and then expects me to tell them how to install their parts. My experience of repairs all these years didn't come for free for me. Amazon too is killing small business.
2:36 you have misspoken
I asked the mayor and he very clearly stated to a group of us that if passed by the voters he hoped the board would put most of the monies to infrastructure and to rebuild the police as some of the Aldermen promised when more revenue came in. I have never ever heard the mayor say just to police. The gasoline tax has to go to the roads period. That is state law
Know your facts and quit lying
Wow! This is getting to be a pretty pathetic blog. So many get on here complaining it is almost like a few used to be managers at fast food establishments that are afraid that someone is going to be on the clock for too long, can't work them more than 40 hours or that is considered full time, and heaven forbid, overtime pay. The fact remains, you need to stop thinking that way. If I am doing work, and required to do work, I require to be paid for all of that work, even if it goes into overtime. My time has a value, and other people should be treated the same whether they are Police, Fire, or even Fast food workers. Fact remains that if staff is cut, who picks up that workload on top of their regular workload? Get used to having to pay more for overtime.
Other fact is that we participate in the community by paying taxes to fund the things that we all take for granted until some right wing talk show host starts spewing their garbage and hate. We all want good and safe schools, roads, infrastructure, police, fire, parks, and the like. We all share in the cost of that.
Sad to say there are some out there that are so self centered that they wouldn't help anyone else out if the need ever came about because they are too much of a tightwad or think of a religious reason to substantiate the reason that makes it okay in their eyes not to do that.
No matter your current situation, whether you are a alderman, mayor, current or former city official, resident, or retiree does not exempt anyone from participation if you reside in this community, yes even those on fixed income. There is a simple solution for those that don't like paying taxes to support these services, and that is to move and get out. Problem solved
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