RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE
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Taxes, Taxes!
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| 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
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| 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.
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.
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.
Retired LEO
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.
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.
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!
It's turning into mob rule.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Andy Whiteman
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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
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.
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
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
I support the Raytown PD. Not sure why I even come to this blog.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Great post.
Are you LEO?? If so, thank you for your service.
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.
"Your bias is tainting your judgement."
More anti-cop bias here than pro-cop bias it seems to a lot of folks.
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.
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!
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.
What a wild stretch of the imagination you have.
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!
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 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!
They park in the fire lane so they can get in and out quick. They could recieve a call and every second counts.
If they are that lazy and the driver cannot stay with the unit in the parking lot they need to retire.
5:08 pm
What??????????
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.
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!!!!!!!!!
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
I would think you would approve of the Internet tax if you are worried about small business.
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.
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
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