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Tony Jacobs
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
Speaks Out . . .
Tony
Jacobs is a regular speaker at Raytown Board of Aldermen meetings. He
frequently takes the podium during Public Comments to report items of interest
to the Public and Board at the beginning of each meeting.
Like
most public speakers, he is attentive to detail and keeps his comments within
the guidelines set forth by the Board.
He is
also getting better at delivering a clear and concise message. When it comes to
city business, Tony has learned the value of accuracy in his comments. . He
relies heavily on information provided to him through the Freedom of Information
Act.
Last
week, his comments were full of information the voting public.
PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASES:
“According
to Deborah of the Jackson County Collector’s Office and Richard Sheets of the
Missouri Municipal League, the (property) tax raise will affect all property,
not just housing. This means the effective rate is not the $100 dollars the
city claims, but rather increases will be seen on Cars, Boats, RV’s, etc. This
also means small business owners will be seeing a spike they will need to pass
on to customers or lay off employees.”
CITY WIDE ASSESSMENTS AND TAXES:
“Assessments
are 32% for (businesses) instead of only 19% for residential. . . . Another frustrating
part of the city asking for more money is the sewer department seeking a rate
study to increase (rates) 5% for five years. Even though according to State Auditor files the sewer department
had excess revenues of $673,000 or 10%.”
CITY EMPLOYEE PAY:
“The
Pinnacle however comes with the statement that city employees haven’t been
given raises. After reviewing literally hundreds of employees and thousands and
thousands of paychecks it come to my attention that this is not true. In fact,
last year alone the positive variance of more than 3% of a person’s salary
included 27 individuals, which made up 17% of the hundred fifty-eight unelected
returning employees year-over-year. For instance the City Administrator got
about a 5% increase. Other increases were up 40%.”*
*MR.
JACOBS SAID THE SALARY DOES NOT INCLUDE CLOTHING ALLOWANCES, “CELL PHONE
ALLOWANCES, FLOATING HOLIDAY PAY, INSURANCE OPT OUT BONUS, MILITARY LEAVE PAY,
OVERTIME, SICK TIME, VACATION PAY, WORKING HOLIDAY PAY, SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY,
BEREAVEMENT PAY, SPECIAL DUTY PAY, SEVERANCE AND GIFT CARDS, OR ANY OTHER DOZEN
SPECIAL PAY CATEGORIES.”
Paul’s
Rant BY PAUL LIVIUS
THE FOLLOWING IS AN ABRIDGED VERSION OF AN
ARTICLE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN THE RAYTOWN REPORT.
ARTICLE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN THE RAYTOWN REPORT.
The
Tyranny of the Minority
Okay. I
bastardized the saying. It is actually the Tyranny of the Majority. The Tyranny
of the Majority is unofficially an explanation of when the majority refuses to
hear or brow beats their opposition into submission on public issues.
I call
this story the Tyranny of the Minority because in these strange times it is
often the minority who take over the bully pulpit and browbeat their opposition
into silence. On the national scene you saw this last summer at the University
of California (Berkley) when a minority of the student population rioted to
keep public speakers from making addresses at the campus.
In a way,
we have a Tyranny of the Minority playing out here in Raytown.
Facebook,
a tool that is marvelous for informing the public can also be used to subvert
the public. Case in point . . . Mayor McDonough’s veto of the Board of
Aldermen’s vote to establish the pecking order of who does what at City Hall.
The Board
voted to establish the order as Mayor/Board of Aldermen / City Administrator /
Department Heads (elected and appointed).
In so
doing, they have adopted a measure already mandated to them by Missouri State
Statutes.
So what
they have done is nothing new. They merely adopted a law they are required to
follow.
It all
makes for good theatre. But even if the veto is upheld it will not change
anything. Raytown is a Fourth Class City. A fourth class city is a statutory
city. That means it must follow the laws established by lawmakers in Jefferson
City.
The Board of Aldermen will remain the ultimate decision maker in
Raytown.
A couple
of posts on the blog section of the Raytown Report proclaimed the majority of
Raytowners are opposed to the majority of the Board's actions this past year. One went so
far as to say the public speakers at Council meetings ALL support the Police
and are opposed to what the Board of Aldermen have accomplished.
I
disagree.
Here is a
reality check. Most people do not itch for a fight. When someone sits quietly
at a meeting and does not wildly applaud when someone giving their point of
view speaks, it means they do not agree with what was said.
I do not blame people for not standing up and speaking out at
meetings. Here is why.
I review
all the meetings in my Paul Livius Report. The microphones at city hall are
pretty sensitive. Turn up your speaker if you want to check this out. I have
heard the reception speakers who are not in tune with the crowd called vulgar
names, racist names. Shouts of “sit down” and “shut up” do not encourage anyone
with the opposing view from speaking their mind.
I am well aware of how a few can make their voice sound like many on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat. Those same few are often viewed as threatening by many folks. My point in this rather lengthy rant is this . . . Do not take silence as a sign of support of your position. You will be surprised at how wrong you can be.
I am well aware of how a few can make their voice sound like many on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat. Those same few are often viewed as threatening by many folks. My point in this rather lengthy rant is this . . . Do not take silence as a sign of support of your position. You will be surprised at how wrong you can be.
Our Editorial View . . . BY GREG WALTERS AND PAUL LIVIUS
Vote NO August 7thQUESTION 1 will increase the city property tax paid for "residential and commercial property owners" from 35 cents to $1 per $100 of assessed value. This tax increase will also be levied against our personal property . . . your car, motorcycle, trailer, RV, boat, etc.
Vote NO ON QUESTION 1
What
City Hall is not telling you is that each time Jackson County reassesses the
value of your property the tax you pay will increase. This tax increase will
hurt homeowners on fixed incomes and small businesses throughout Raytown.
A FACT CITY HALL IS NOT SHARING WITH YOU
The County re-assesses property tax valuations every two years.
2019 will be a re-assessment year.
The County re-assesses property tax valuations every two years.
2019 will be a re-assessment year.
QUESTION 2 will place a two cent tax on every gallon of gasoline, diesel and blended ethanol fuels sold in Raytown.
Vote NO ON QUESTION 2
City Hall has not committed to continue traditional funding sources in future budgets for road maintenance if this tax passes. This leaves the door open for more cuts in the city budget for street repair and maintenance.
Vote NO ON QUESTION 2
City Hall has not committed to continue traditional funding sources in future budgets for road maintenance if this tax passes. This leaves the door open for more cuts in the city budget for street repair and maintenance.
A
FACT CITY HALL IS NOT SHARING WITH YOU
On November 2nd there will be a state wide 10 cent tax increase on the ballot. If approved, the tax will also be applied to any fuel pumped ata gas station in Missouri.
On November 2nd there will be a state wide 10 cent tax increase on the ballot. If approved, the tax will also be applied to any fuel pumped ata gas station in Missouri.
QUESTION 3 will place a 2.5% “use tax” on all internet purchases made by anyone living in
Raytown.
Vote NO ON QUESTION 3
This so called use
tax is, in reality, another sales tax. Like the property tax in Question 1, it
is tied to inflation. Every item you purchase on the internet will have a 2.5%
“Use Tax” tied to it.
A FACT CITY HALL IS NOT SHARING WITH YOU
This same tax
increase was turned down last April by voters in Blue Springs and Independence,
Missouri.
Voter Alert!
THE
BALLOT LANGUAGE CONTRIVED BY CITY HALL IS CONFUSING. IT IS DESIGNED TO HIDE THE
MONETARY IMPACT OF THE THREE TAX INCREASES TO HOME OWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS.
All
three taxes will transfer your hard earned money to City Hall without any
specific promise or guarantee of improved services.
Comments
1.) How to manipulate a time card?
2.) How to get a city vehicle for your personal needs?
3.) How to have more officers and less tickets?
4.) How to have more officers and more unserved warrants?
5.) How to intimidate others?
2:46 am
Sounds like YOU should attend the Citizen's Police Academy. You would come away with a deeper understanding of what our police folks do.
6) How to use taxpayer purchased equipment for personal gain and profit
Agreed. My vote is NO. Absolutely not.
Raytown needs to get it's house in order first.
5:07 pm
You are right! The Citizen's Academy is a "feel good" thing.
You come away with a greater appreciation for these men and women who would put their lives on the line for ANYONE in this city.
Board should have fired them all on the spot!
You're darn right!! Several city officials appear to be untruthworthy IOHO, and we DO prefer gravel roads in the interim until they either retire or are permanently expelled from office.
No possibility of liberal cash and spendy-spendy until prior expenditures are accounted for and a solid, sustainable financial plan is implemented.
Foolish to put the cart before the horse.
Fact: The City has been bad stewards of your tax dollars.
Fact: Three tax initiatives at once is prima facie mismanagement.
Fact: More taxes means rewarding malfeasance and waste.
Fact: There is no oversight committee in all three ballot statements.
Fact: You have no legal guarantee of where the money will be spent.
Fact: These taxes will hurt businesses and residents.
Conclusion: Raytown citizens should vote NO on all three NEW TAXES to send a message to City Hall to live within their budget as the citizens have too.
Moral of the Story: Increasing Raytown's tax revenue without changing the Mayor and his cronies will only prove the law of diminishing returns for the taxpayers and business owners.
It is time for the City Hall minions to be quiet and the hard working folks of Raytown to loudly speak No New Taxes on August 7th.
For you bloggers of feeble mind that want to be created in the Mayor's own image. I am not repeat not the owner of this blog.
We are in our seventies and living mostly on Social Security. It will cost us a few hundred dollars a year more to pay the tax increases but it's time the city had more funding to get some badly needed improvements made.
Am I happy with how everything is at City Hall? Heck no! I am sure their is wasteful spending of our tax dollars. That is a fact of life at all levels of government.
BTW... I would support an "Internet" tax but not a "use" tax. It's my understanding that use taxes require a citizen to self report out of area spending and then declare and pay the appropriate tax to the city. That's just too much.
I will be voting no on the tax increases. Yes. Even the gasoline tax increase. I do not trust the city keep its word. I would not be surprised that IF the gasoline tax passes that the Mayor and City Council would start taking money from the road funds to take care of their pet departments at city hall.
Not one councilman speaks to this issue. They have plenty to say about fireworks. And tons to say about whether or not someone should talk 3 or 5 minutes during Public Comments. But absolutely nothing to say about what they plan to do with our tax dollars.
"I will be voting no on the tax increases...Not one councilman speaks to this issue. They have plenty to say about fireworks. And tons to say about whether or not someone should talk 3 or 5 minutes during Public Comments. But absolutely nothing to say about what they plan to do with our tax dollars..."
"Fact: The City has been bad stewards of your tax dollars.
Fact: Three tax initiatives at once is prima facie mismanagement.
Fact: More taxes means rewarding malfeasance and waste.
Fact: There is no oversight committee in all three ballot statements.
Fact: You have no legal guarantee of where the money will be spent.
Fact: These taxes will hurt businesses and residents."
Wiser words...
I wish that some of these Facebook mouthpieces would wake up and consider that there are potentially some rather sinister consequences for willy nilly voting in a bunch of additional taxes.
Step back. Slow down. Personnel changes, plans and oversight first.
Other cities have been forced to pay pennies on the dollors on their pension funds and I think we should be doing that too.
Look at the issue and tell me the police have not created the mess we have and part is the funding of the pension.
1.) They have had no problem being the Nations leading top heavy police department for years. No officer ever spoke up about to the Board or news media, but several moved one as quickly as they got hired so they were not part of the problem. Around town you could hear officers talking about not understanding why only 2 of them reported to 1 supervisor.
2.) They never spoke up or took legal action over the mismanagement of the pension fund. Yes, miss management for how could UMB say it was managing the plan correctly when quarter after quarter it would loos money while the market and plans outside of UMB saw growth. To this day have you heard any officers complain that the city is still doing business with UMB even though they have shown they don't care about them.
3.) We know the police got caught at least once last fall playing with the time cards of 16 officers trying to give them overtime for hours not worked. Do you really want to believe this is the first time it happened and that is why the cards got adjusted and overtime removed. I know I don't as it was the first time they got caught. If you are not working, but time cards show you are that is fraud and should be reason to scrap the pension all together.
4.) We live in a small community and talk is all over town about these things and the fact Lynch has been allowing those officers within 5 years of retirement to start kicking up their overtime. This is done as the pension plan payout is figured on age, years of service and salary average for the past 5 years. Therefore by pushing overtime in those years you increase your monthly payouts after retirement. As a business owner I don't want my senior employees working overtime as they also earn more that someone with a few years on the job. I also would question why after so long some one who is near retirement and never worked much over time was all at once trying to cash in on it. Why is this allowed in our police department.
I think we need to vote NO on all the tax questions and wait unit after the city elections in April when we have a new mayor and Board of Alderman with the courage to do right by the citizens, and explore other options starting with this one.
one who started the process of spending more money than we had and not telling anyone that he
was dipping into the reserve fund of the city. After all he and the old city manager were really good
buddies.
I think that it was foolish of the board to spend $30,000 on a study of how bad our streets are when
we have no provision to take care of them. How many funds are being spent on projects that do not
benefit the city?
The cruel irony here is that City Hall has wasted your hard earned tax dollars and expect you to give them more.
A further inexplicable concept is what Raytown voter who reads the vague and confusing ballot language honestly vote for any of these taxes??
Signed
Raytown Realist
The audit is need to prove to those who believe in the lies and to more so be used to make sure the abuse never happens again.
You are correct Lynches salary cannot be touched in midterm, but who says there are not 30,000 or close to in benefits that can be cut.
Lets start with a city vehicle unless he is on patrol!
Spit take, resonant, breathless laughter.
Thanks, we needed that!
They won't tell us what they're going to do with it. Imagine that in any other setting...going to a bank for a loan but you won't tell them what it's for? That level of arrogance has been demonstrated enough for me to decide.
Increase taxes for better services? Absolutely...but not this board. no way. After they get replaced, lets talk about it again. If they don't...my answer will still be no.
As a final note..that little tony guy should really just get an attorney to settle whatever he's so angry about. It's embarrassing to listen to his rambling like he's on the cusp of some great reveal. good grief.
July 9, 2018 at 5:07 PM
So you are blasting a program that you have never attended?
Wow
If you don;t understand the daily operational cost of the county, which based on your Facebook post you don't it shows you therefore don't understand the daily cost of operation for the city.
Sir that makes you like Mr. Lynch part of the problem with Raytown!
"Cronies"? "Injustices"?
What did we miss? Examples?
You ARE however somewhat correct about "...the last 30 years...". Many of us have been acquainted with some of these officeholders a little longer than that! Long enough to be familiar with their personality characteristics, aptitudes and their backgrounds.
We know enough to be legitimately concerned about their ability to function in their respective positions, and continue to be concerned that they were ever elected to positions of responsibility in the first place.
Absolutely no new taxes until that mess in city hall is sorted out.
They also said they are tired of putting the cost of having a Walmart on the backs of the small business owners.
For those that didn't watch last night Board of Alderman meeting you might want to know that one of two leaders in the group to "OVER TAX RAYTOWN" is up for an appointment to the park board.
I guess the you scratch my back, I scratch you back is alive and well in Raytown.
I understand this is a clear ethics violation and the individual will need to be removed from consideration all together at this point.
Remember just a few years ago Jason Greene talking about the police budget being out of control and something needing to be done, but what does he do.
He goes out and makes the motion to give Lynch a raise.
Who would give someone a raise if they didn't think the department was being managed correctly.
He spent the better part of the last two years telling the city had no financial issues.
Now in the last several of months everything is the sky is falling and what are we going to do.
Are we really to believe this happened over night or more from his lies and willingness to look the other way.
In the best interest of Raytown we cannot allow our leaders to treat us this way and the best way to show it is time to stop the lies and spend responsible is with 3 NO VOTEs AUG 7th.
Great points about the lies coming from too many on the Board of Alderman and/or police and even better research.
First, it is a complete and bold face lie to state the City has not increased the property tax mil-levy rate. One simply has to look to the City's 2017-2018 Budget and you see that in 2009 the levy was .3189, in 2010 the Aldermen arbitrarily decided to increase the levy to .3668 or 15% increase.
That increase basically remained in place until this year when the Hancock Amendment forced the City into lowering the levy to .3373 which still amounts to a 10% increase in just the past 8 years.
The shell game comes into play further when you hear people like the Mayor publically state that the Library receives roughly the same amount of tax revenue that the City does. Statements like those are deliberate and only serve to deceive the voter.
You see, the City does not only derive all of its income from the property tax. The city also receives millions in hidden taxes we all pay.
Just look at your utility bills some time or your cell phone bill and you will see franchise fees or taxes which generate almost 4 million a year for the City.
Every homeowner in Raytown must pays these fees on the natural gas, electricity, internet and entertainment services (i.e., cable television) and telephone service.
Even your cell phone service is taxed.
Here is a little secret most Raytowners are not aware of. Both your electric and natural gas bills are double taxed.
Check out your last electric or gas bill. You will see the Sales Tax follows the Franchise Tax. That means the sales tax is applied against the amount of Franchise Tax you pay! That’s right you are paying a tax on a tax.
The City is the only entity that is allowed to collect this tax and the City does nothing to earn it. When you equate this franchise tax we all must pay in to the mil levy it makes the City’s tax rate $1.94 which makes them by far the number 2 taxing jurisdiction in Raytown.
Just a brief Google search will show that Raytown’s franchise taxes are the highest in Jackson county, make no mistake these are taxes plain and simple. When you then add on the fact that a whopping 12% of every cent of sales tax goes to the City as well, you really start to see the narrative that is being sold is not close to truthful.
Please join us in sending the message to 10000 East 59th on August 7th that we have had enough of the lies...
Signed the Citizens for the Truth in Raytown
I as I understand it one or more members took to abusing the homeless people who are living underneath 170 at Sterling.
What has happened to compassion in Raytown.
Is this the image we want for Raytown!
Can we please not resort to these types of attacks? These remarks are low class by any standard of decency. This is like me saying that so and so is a cannibal and eats babies. Let’s critique each other’s ideas and not reside in the toilet.
The main problem is not homelessness, although that is a big problem.
The issue is that the homeless people are accosting folks and begging. Folks feel unsafe.
This is not in Raytown anyway.
I noticed several news stories have been done so that post did get a spotlight put on the problem.
Us too. The conversation on there leaves us with this pervasive negative feeling. There are a handful of really hateful people on that site. There are plenty of other "Raytown" options to choose from on Facebook.
It is not only the things 8:10 brought to light, but there is a local small business that found out unleashed was allowing information to be posted that they had closed the doors when they had not. It had started having a negative impact on the business and wouldn't have even been brought to their attention had word of the post not started to spread beyond the hate of unleashed.
Sounds like trying to justify their actions because it was not in Raytown.
Hate is Hate.
By the way this is the same group that thinks the police can do no wrong and refuse to listen to facts even from their own Tony Jacobs.
I'm voting "NO" on the tax questions
"...not resort to these types of attacks? These remarks are low class by any standard of decency. This is like me saying that so and so is a cannibal and eats babies."
And this helps how? A member of the handful that regularly causes issues on that Facebook group (including the "admin") likely wrote this?
"...eats babies...". Seriously?
Only a disturbed mind would write something like that.
You'll need to also indict the news media, as they recognized it as a serious enough issue that they gave it air time. The same media that you pander to.
Rather hypocritical, don't you think? Give it a rest.
I was surprised that when he confirmed I lived in Raytown to vote "NO" on the three tax questions.
I have always supported the unions and they are saying "NO" on a tax question there must be something wrong with it.
RIP Coach Lathrop.
July 11, 2018 at 6:41 PM
Just because the franchise fee follows the sales tax it doesn't mean it's applied to the sales tax. I've done the math, it's not charged on the sales tax. Talk about a lie, saying it's charged on the sales tax when it's not.
Also, the franchise is a fee paid by the utility to the city to use the right of way for service lines. Since utility companies pay into social security and other fees for employees, but don't break it out on the bill, are we like triple taxed, since all income from utilities come from sales of their service you're also paying for the unemployment and workers comp charges for their employees, and all the other costs including their franchisee fee, it just isn't itemized on the bill like the franchisee fee is.
12% of every cent of sales tax goes to the city according to your post. So for every 1 cent of sales tax the city gets .0012 cents, which you call whopping? What that calculates out to the city getting almost a full penny for every 8 cents paid in sales tax. Not whooping in my book.
Yes the city does have other fees and taxes for income, which is good, because that spreads the cost of operating the city. No matter how many fees currently exist, or taxes are in place, it doesn't change the fact that the cost of running a city has gone up more than the income the city of Raytown has and there needs to be more income, for the city to operate.
If you don't like how the city is currently run, voting no on the taxes won't change that, it'll just get the next BOA less to work with, vote yes for the taxes, and in April vote for the Aldermen of your choice, hopefully there are some qualified individuals running, for the positions.
Also I cannot wait to see their take when the city doesn't follow through on what ever was promised as we all know that money is going to the police.
Not even a year and they want more & more
Tax and Spend Republicans
Andy Whiteman
Sick of them saying they need more money while the only place that get service is Walmart.
I am not surprised I mean why go on a call to a neighborhood assault when the company that is giving your officers countless hours of overtime pay that we have learned is better than that of their normal salary.
Lynch and his mouth piece of a mayor best hope they have a hell of an umbrella issuance policy as if something happens to my family I am coming for everything they own including that beloved pension.
They both need to stop profiting off us the citizens
How do you honestly pander your logic and look yourself in the mirror?
You speak of a fact of the cost of running the City. Let's unpack that. The City choose to give Walmart huge tax breaks and unpaid services that any fool could have known would affect the cost of running the City.
I guess we taxpayers should just blithely vote in more taxes on ourselves to make up for the unnecessary and council inflicted increased costs of running the City. When we in fact did not get to vote on giving Walmart a free hand in our City coffers.
It is simple arithmetic. Give the City more taxes + They will waste these additional taxes too = More tax initiatives to meet the cost of running the City into the ground.
I would think you have a greater mental capacity than to ask us to give more money to a City that can not handle our money wisely.
Intellectual honesty begs a NO Vote on all three initiatives for a host of logical reasons:
1. The Ballot language is vague, confusing and incomplete.
2. There is no language that guarantees a neutral committee of
citizens will have oversight to ensure the money will go where it
is supposed too.
3. The City has proven they are irresponsible with our tax dollars
now.
4. Three tax initiatives at one time is indisputable proof the City
can't be trusted with more tax dollars.
5. History proves you cannot tax yourself out of debt.
6. If you give the City more taxes you reward bad management and
will undoubtedly be forced to give yet more taxes later.
7. As the founders of Raytown often cautioned "Don't spend good
money after bad".
I hope you now see the errors of your convoluted economic theory and cease trying to Rip Off Raytown voters.
I just checked mine- subtotal 199.39 franchise fee or 15.95. Tax on the subtotal at 2% = .02*199.39=3.9878 tax on the subtotal+ franchise fee of 15.95 would be .02*(199.39+15.95) = 4.03 Sales tax charged on the bill 3.99. I'm not sure what math you're doing but sales tax isn't charged on the franchise fee. Checking your bill and seeing the subtotal with the franchisee fee below it and the sales tax below it, doesn't mean that sales tax was charged on the subtotal+ franchisee fee.
God love lawyers
I hope the new political club "Stop the Raytown Rip-Off" will be able to channel the peoples anger to a trifecta NO vote
I can't wait until the Raytown Taxpayers Assoc. get their mail out to the people. Look out Morris and Anderson. Oh yeah, you bought into the City Hall con and a bruising campaign.
Or when the Political club "Rescue Raytown" from City Hall concludes their planned door to door campaign.
Judges don’t like to overturn election results unless there is a constitutional issue involved. I don’t see any constitutional issues with these taxes. Nice misinformation though.
It seems he had to explain to those pro tax folks how to properly report things to the ethic commission.
If those pro tax folks don't under stand the ethic's rules how can we trust them to explain the taxes to us.
"You speak of a fact of the cost of running the City. Let's unpack that. The City choose to give Walmart huge tax breaks and unpaid services that any fool could have known would affect the cost of running the City.
I guess we taxpayers should just blithely vote in more taxes on ourselves to make up for the unnecessary and council inflicted increased costs of running the City. When we in fact did not get to vote on giving Walmart a free hand in our City coffers.
It is simple arithmetic. Give the City more taxes + They will waste these additional taxes too = More tax initiatives to meet the cost of running the City into the ground.
I would think you have a greater mental capacity than to ask us to give more money to a City that can not handle our money wisely.
Intellectual honesty begs a NO Vote on all three initiatives for a host of logical reasons:
1. The Ballot language is vague, confusing and incomplete.
2. There is no language that guarantees a neutral committee of
citizens will have oversight to ensure the money will go where it
is supposed too.
3. The City has proven they are irresponsible with our tax dollars
now.
4. Three tax initiatives at one time is indisputable proof the City
can't be trusted with more tax dollars.
5. History proves you cannot tax yourself out of debt.
6. If you give the City more taxes you reward bad management and
will undoubtedly be forced to give yet more taxes later.... "
"The sky is falling! The sky..."
They're at it again, folks!
One member of this vocal handful's property taxes are thousands of dollars (nearly 3500-) in arrears, and there was a 2-3 year payment gap in their personal property payments, according to the online Jackson County online lookup/bill pay.
"Consider the source..."
How amusing. Let me say this. We are and will be in 100% compliance with Missouri law. Unlike certain folks who did not bother to register at all, but somehow think it’s ok to combine individual actions without forming a committee and registering it with the state.
I’ll take the challenge. Although you wrote a diatribe....
Point 1: the ballot language is just fine. It’s written in the English language and I paid attention in school and have no problem understanding it.
Point 2: not the responsibility of City Hall to create a neutral committee to oversee the taxes. Responsible and caring citizens can and should do this on their own.
Point 3: that’s your opinion. Past performance does not guarantee future results anyway.
Point 4: that’s your opinion
Point 5: that’s your opinion. Nice slogan too. The City is not taxing to bail out a debt so your assertion is false to begin with.
Point 6: illogical assertion. Pure opinion.
Point on number 3- The post is forgetting to mention it was passed in Liberty. Yes it's a sales tax on things purchased online where not sales tax is paid. Equals out pricing a bit for local stores. If you can buy it locally but don't want the sales tax then you buy it online tax free, and our local business loose a sale.
No there are no guarantees where the money will go, what there is a guarantee of is every two years in April aldermen are reelected or not. If you think the money has been miss managed in the past, the only people you have to blame are the people that voted in those aldermen or those that didn't vote.
To the comments that claim the city wanting a tax increase is because they miss managed money and it's rewarding bad behavior, take a look at the cities income the past few decades it hasn't gone up much if at all, and now it's reached a critical point. The problem is they don't have the money coming in, like living on the same wages you made for 40 years without an increase and someone saying, well if you managed your money better.....
Wake up, smell the coffee and quit living in the past and let the city move into the future. If you don't like the people in office do something about it in April, but lets get the tools (money) in place for the city to improve now so they have something to work with.
It's premature to vote on multiple, permanent tax increases.
Instant gratification will only accelerate the destruction of this city.
We must clean house, raise our standards and organize first.
Gosh I am sorry. I just realized your are a cerebral kindergartner. I didn't realize I was attempting to intellectually joust with a preschooler or Mayor McDonough.
Hey little guy forget I responded and go to your mommy she says she has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, sippy cup of milk and some really tasty grapes for lunch. Toddle off now. I won't bother your further.
Now all the grown ups who can think logically will vote NO on August 7th against three of the unfairest taxes ever presented to the Raytown voter.
They said this is why this was on the Aug ballot and not April.
It allows any of the new elected Alderman and Mayor to collect on the wealth.
Are these groups registered with the Missouri Election Commission?
by the way. I agree with your comments on the school district. They are the true robber barons in Raytown. But that does not make a good deal out of what the city is proposing. Count me and mine as a NO vote on August 7th.
Raytown will use scare tactics to frighten our citizens in the hope that we will give them a blank check to spend as the Mayor pleases.
The upcoming August 7th Triple Tax vote is proof that the City is admitting they have broken our City
Remember the slogan of Bennie the Bloated Bureaucrat..."Only You can Stop the Fiscal Insanity"
Do yourself a triple solid and vote NO on these taxes to bailout City Hall's mismanagement and feed the Mayor's arrogance.
The Mayor wants the money to help Lynch rebuild the police empire even though we have as many officer on the street now as we did before everyone left as a result of Lynch's lies.
There are two “members” of Citizens For Progress. Brian Morris, Treasurer and Michael Anderson, Deputy Treasurer. We are officers. Anyone is welcome to look us up on the Jackson County website. Make sure you have our address when you look us up. You’ll find that we both are up to date in the payment of our taxes and we pay them regularly each year. We are proud of the campaign we are conducting and we are committed to transparency. This election is very important, and it’s important to follow the Missouri Ethics Commission rules. Win, lose, or draw, we are committed to Raytown and it’s people. With all that said, both of us have no intention of running for office in the future, or ever. And we are looking forward to the election being over, as we are average citizens who want the best for Raytown, but we do want to get back to our families. Please exercise your right to vote on August 7th!
Those are the simple facts of what is being asked. The part missing is the city is not addressing what put it in this position. Run-away tax abatements, over-spending by the police department. A command staff in the police department that acts like it is above the rules put in place by the city council. Not to mention a tendency to over-use tax abatements and continue to support tax abatement districts that are not producing results are your problems.
Address those problems first. Then ask for money.
As it sits right now. I will be a solid NO vote on August 7th.
As we no nothing in this world is free including an ad as they called it in their paper.
I think you will find it interesting who actually paid for it and not only appears to be changing an ethics filing, but also the facts around it not being free.
We know they lied about the police, now they lie about this.... Will it ever stop!
Lie= Something said that can be proven to be an untruth, i.e. not a matter of opinion.
IMHOTI = In My Humble Opinion That Is
9:00 AM Not following, How does the comments to 1:16 about Tony's research and fact finding having anything to do will what you are talking about. I question what you are hiding.
Are you referring to the people that merely post their opinions on this blog?
Are you attempting to regulate that too?
How 'bout a municipal "blog tax"?
(I know, I know...don't give the dynamic duo any ideas..)
For instance, over at Unglued they love "debate"! So much so, that if anyone expresses a negative opinion about that insane tax increase, the dominatrix of Unglued and her 3-4 handmaidens will pile on within seconds. Rapid response. At the speed of light, even.
Don't confuse their bogus claim of free debate with the furtive need to control and silence anyone that they disagree with. They could let opposing opinions lie and let the conversation take it's course, but that isn't their end game.
Just think how traumatic it would be for one of them in particular to hold her tongue and simply be still when someone expresses a divergent opinion.
Boiling point! Someone call 911!
The pressure to conform over at Unglued totally annihilates the purpose of what is purported to be a community forum.
We treasure debate. When it's genuine, not in a controlled environment.
And therein, to a large degree, lies the value of being able to express our sentiments anonymously.
And if it's anything like it was 8-9 months ago, as desperation sets in, Unglued will claim that they've talked to EVERYONE under the moon, stars and Raytown Bridge about the tax. Yup, those people are all on board and will be voting in the affirmative. You betcha, you betcha!
And the fact that asst. elected city admin are (figuratively) in bed with that kind of behavior by regularly posting on that site tells me plenty.
To wit...
Get ur funeral home motorcycle escort, Wal-Mart door checker and warehouse security guard gigs lined up, guys. Replacement time is drawing nigh.
Fool me once shame on you.... Fool me twice shame on me.
I am not going to be feeling any shame.
NO on the city tax questions!
I don't trust any damn one of them, but I also don't want the direction our beloved Raytown in going in. I just don't see taxing our way out of the mess that our fine "professional" PD and city staff has gotten us into.
The word for the effort to pass higher taxes for the police
Did you speak with Kevin O’Neill the publisher of the Labor Beacon? Because that’s the guy who would truly know.
Pretty clear that even if the property tax proposal passes, it will not result in a "windfall" for the city since it now only represents 4.2% of annual income.
This? Again?
Yada, yada, yada.
We'll gladly take our chances until this tiresome slate of clowns are replaced.
Replace, revise, plan and restore.
No new taxes until that time.
This time with more and more taxes
Last time with the fear we would be over ran with crime.
Andy Whiteman
Just fyi.....Police volunteers DO have to undergo a background check.
We don't need more police
We need an appointed chief and why is that not on the ballot.
Makes me think about those that messed with the national election.
Until that time we will see more of the wild west way of people taking the law into their own hands.
How long before Jim Lynch and Jean Peters Baker get sewed for allowing this!
In an email dated Sept 7th 505pm Capt Candice Schwarz wrote an email to a volunteer RB after a review indicated he had not filled out a background check nor application. After several emails back and forth on Sept 17th he wrote back he refused to fill out the appropriate paperwork. He indicated he had 2 uniforms, a badge and a key. He had already been serving in a capacity that afforded him access to sensitive areas and systems. Future emails detailed his return of uniforms but they could not find the other items, city hall has been looking into it and they too are having trouble verifying keys and badge were returned. Sunshine request away or tell me where you'd like to meet and i can let you see it in person (that'd be faster).
To July 17th, 1105pm
You must have left early after cutting that check, Another lie. Van Buskirk made a motion to reconsider, and swung the vote to APPLY 5-4. There was nothing before the Board to accept. It is incredible how much emotion clouds truth. There was no "FREE" money to turn down. There is nothing Free in life anyway. Ask to see the emails from VIPS Inc, they have been using the PD copiers, labels, Notaries (unbonded), uniforms, systems, training facilities, and time on the clock. If you want to see the emails let me know, i have over 1200.
And to those who say "post them here" how about you just contact me instead of hide behind anonymity the same 3 people posting 10 times? Face to Face conversations are way better than online keyboard warriors. In person is much more constructive and efficient.
"Where does your tax dollar go"
It is hard to be honest and add the fact about all the other taxes the city collects.
Once a cop always a cop and you cannot find any honest ones anymore.
Our new slogan to go with "Raytown Reaching for Tomorrow" as they cannot get their act together today.
The key part to the free shower was when they told me they did endorse tax question 2 because they had been promised a lot of future road work.
I am still laughing that they bought this, but I cannot wait to see them have those old fashioned one on one conversations when they don't get what they were promised.
Oh to be a fly on that wall.
Number one, it's not "Marshall", it's Marshal".
And number two, a charter needs to be enacted to both manage and prevent grossly unqualified and/or unsuitable candidates from running hog wild in office.
Give it a rest, grammar police.
However, you are wrong on the appointed chief. A 4th class city may by the approval of the voters change to an appointed chief.
Interest what one learns when they look for facts Vs. story time with Jim.
The steakhouses won't be on board until we have good streets and a properly-staffed police department, they warn.
Sir, unfortunately, Raytown hasn't been in preferred marketing for several DECADES. Raytown is landlocked, has a limited "catch" area, and town demographics disqualified us even "back then".
Demos continue their rapid, dismal downfall around here, in the worst ways possible. Tax bases don't lie. Neither do the significant number of violent incidents that Raytown has experienced in these last few days.
And it's very doubtful, given the nature of this recent violence, that increased police presence would have mitigated anything at all.
Additionally, all it takes is for these respective corporates to take a brief look in at current city administration. What they would discover would cause them to RUN, not walk, in the opposite direction.
Darden, Bloomin' and OSI have stringent standards, yet have had issues in far more prosperous towns than Raytown. Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that they would ever invest their millions in this area.
Not meaning to paint an entirely dismal picture here, but you need to STOP attempting to entice people to vote for these ridiculous taxes via the possibility of a nice steak dinner.
Ridiculous.
Raytona Beach Bum
Did the City of Mission operate without a City Administrator or a City Finance Director. That's what the City of Raytown is doing.
Did the city of Mission sell its financial soul to the walmart god? That is what our leaders in Raytown did.
Don't be so fast to blame the regular folks in Raytown. Check out what they are paying in taxes and you will find the real culprit is mismanagement at City Hall. A police department that is out of control and a Mayor who used to be a Sergeant in the p.d. but refuses to take the badge off and start acting like a mayor.
If this is indeed the case, a State complaint should be filed immediately against each and every entity that misrepresented the Union's position.
Don't forget to also bulldoze all the title loan and cash advance businesses in Raytown.
"Darden, Bloomin' and OSI have stringent standards, yet have had issues in far more prosperous towns than Raytown. Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that they would ever invest their millions in this area."
Agreed. Pretty much no chance of a Panera Bread, Olive Garden, ect.
The only reason we have any major food or retail in Raytown to begin with is due to the traffic counts along the 350 corridor.
As for the make believe chatter about this restaurant or that restaurant coming to Raytown if these three taxes pass. Sounds like the same double-talk we heard when the wise ones at city hall decided to underwrite a Walmart on 350 Highway.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! If this is your idea of progress count me as three solid no votes on August 7th. Think I will go chat up my neighbors about your plans to throw us deeper into debt. Should make for some interesting conversation.
Glad to be out of that headache of a city.
It also sounds like the police and FOP are justifying why officers need to live in the city where they work.
A police officer tax!
It would work like social security that the officers would pay a matching percentage to that of the business that is using them.
Lets base it on the overall percentage of total taxes and franchise fees to the city, which means sales tax, property tax, and all those taxes and fees on the utilities.
Whereas this is a police officers tax the police department would get the funding, but have the same amount of funds generated from this subtracted from the part of the general funds.
This would allow more money for our streets
Talking about a win, win.
This also would address the issue with officers not wanting to work over time in the parks as the parks are part of the city and would be except from the tax.
The only thing Raytown is reaching for is your pocketbook.
Questions: Are there people in Raytown who have one ....in" reason to trust City Hall?? Are there people in Raytown that are abysmally stupid enough to vote for three tax initiatives at once??
How sad for the real people of Raytown if the answer to either question is yes.
Hmmm. We wonder who has been making the continuous anonymous comments on this blog accusing many of the contributors of "hate". It's rather transparent, isn't it?
Stop it with the "H" word. You're projecting.
No one wants to "hurt" anyone else.
No one wants to "stick it" to anyone.
No one wants to "punish" anyone else.
These taxes need to fail. FOR NOW. When they fail, it won't be for keeps, UNLIKE the open-ended, permanent taxes that you're attempting so desperately to ram down everyone's throats.
We agree with other posters. There are plenty of reasons to vote some of these unqualified, incapable and potentially unethical people out of office FIRST, as a firm assertion that the days of business as usual at City Hall will no longer be tolerated. Reorganization and a fresh start first, otherwise undoubtedly it will be more of the same.
STOP ATTEMPTING TO MANIPULATE EVERYONE BY CONTINUALLY ASSERTING THAT WE'RE DONE FOR IF THESE TAXES ARE FIRMLY REJECTED AT THE POLLS.
Funding is needed. It will happen soon. But not quite yet. Not this way.