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| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
The extraordinary increases are documented below:
CITY ANIMAL LICENSE TAGS AND FEES
Animal License tags were increased by 50%.
Animal Impound fees were increased nearly 75%.
NEW LICENSES WERE ADDED . . .
Catering and Mobile Food Units were priced so high some vendors have chosen not to work in Raytown.
EVEN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
WERE ADDED TO THE LIST
NEW CONSTRUCTION FEES
New construction fees were added. In some cases, old fees were more than tripled.
SEWER BILLS WERE INCREASED
For the second year in a row, sewer bills were increased.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
WERE INCREASED AS WELL
Charging churches a fee to hold an ice cream social is NOT a good idea. Making people pay a "contract setup fee" to be entered into the sanitary sewer billing system is the tactic of pay day loan companies.
It is also interesting to note that most of the fees were increased immediately after the Mayor's three tax increase proposals failed last August 7th.
Raytown Board of Aldermen Meeting – October 16, 2018
The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of annual appropriation-supported tax increment and sales tax refunding revenue bonds (Raytown Live Redevelopment) in the principal amount not to exceed $31,000,000. The City previously issued its $39,990,000 aggregate principal amount of Annual Appropriation-Supported Tax Increment and Sales Tax Revenue Bonds (Raytown Live Redevelopment Plan – Redevelopment Project Area 1), Series 2007 for the purpose of providing funds to (1) pay for certain Redevelopment Project Costs (as defined in the Wal-Mart Redevelopment Agreement) incurred or to be incurred in connection with Redevelopment Project 1, (2) fund capitalized interest on the Series 2007 Bonds, (3) fund a debt service reserve fund for the Series 2007 Bonds, and (4) pay costs related to the issuance of the Series 2007 Bonds.
The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of annual appropriation-supported tax increment and sales tax refunding revenue bonds (Raytown Live Redevelopment) in the principal amount not to exceed $31,000,000. The City previously issued its $39,990,000 aggregate principal amount of Annual Appropriation-Supported Tax Increment and Sales Tax Revenue Bonds (Raytown Live Redevelopment Plan – Redevelopment Project Area 1), Series 2007 for the purpose of providing funds to (1) pay for certain Redevelopment Project Costs (as defined in the Wal-Mart Redevelopment Agreement) incurred or to be incurred in connection with Redevelopment Project 1, (2) fund capitalized interest on the Series 2007 Bonds, (3) fund a debt service reserve fund for the Series 2007 Bonds, and (4) pay costs related to the issuance of the Series 2007 Bonds.
The City has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to
refund all of the $31,240,000 outstanding principal amount of Series 2007 Bonds
by the issuance of the City’s Annual Appropriation-Supported Tax Increment and
Sales Tax Refunding Revenue Bonds (Raytown Live Redevelopment Plan –
Redevelopment Project Area 1), Series 2018.
The City proposes the issuance of the Bonds to provide funds to (1) refund
the Refunded Bonds, (2) fund a debt service reserve fund for the Bonds and (3)
pay costs related to the issuance of the Bonds.
This Bond Ordinance contains parameters which authorize the Mayor to
approve the bond sale under certain conditions. These conditions are
essentially the Bonds mature on such dates with a final maturity of not later
than December 1, 2030 and bear and pay interest at such rates and on such dates
with a true interest cost of not more than 4.50%.
The Bonds and the interest thereon shall be special, limited
obligations of the City payable solely from the Pledged Revenues and moneys in
the funds and accounts held by the Trustee, and shall be secured by a transfer,
pledge and assignment of and a grant of a security interest in the Trust Estate
to the Trustee and in favor of the owners of the Bonds. The Bonds and interest
thereon shall not be deemed to constitute a debt or liability of the City
within the meaning of any constitutional, statutory or charter limitation or
provision, and shall not constitute a pledge of the full faith and credit of
the City but shall be payable solely from the funds provided for in the
Indenture. The issuance of the Bonds shall not, directly, indirectly or
contingently, obligate the City to levy any form of taxation therefor or to
make any appropriation for their payment.
The Board approved a resolution approving the budget for fiscal year
2018-2019. To view the budget go to https://www.raytown.mo.us/vertical/Sites/%7B3A1DBD03-39C2-43FA-8CC9-95B16E6438CB%7D/uploads/10-16-18_Web_Packet(1).pdf Go to page 22.
The Board approved a resolution approving the purchase of portable
radios and equipment from MotorolaSolutions off the JohnsonCounty, Kansas radio
and accessories contract in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00. The Emergency
Medical Services radio system is part of the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio
System (MARRS). Motorola stopped production on the series of mobile radios
currently used by EMS and Police. The MARRS Board has established new minimum
standards for radios purchased after 2014 for use on the MARRS system by Public
Safety. All new radios need to be purchased no later than 2020 to be compliant
with MARRS standards. The purchase of the five (5) APX 4500 mobile radios and
one (1) APX 4500 control station are necessary to bring the City’s current and
future EMS operations into compliance with MARRS system.
On October 9, 2018, the Special Sales Tax Review Committee reviewed the
specification sheets and price quote. The Committee agreed that the expenditure
of an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 for Motorola for five (5) APX 4500 mobile
radios and one (1) APX 4500 control station met the intent of the Capital
Improvement Sales Tax.
The radios are to be purchased through the Johnson County, Kansas Radio
and Accessories Contract 07-1320/DL with Motorola Solutions, Inc. The cost of
five (5) mobile radios, programing, accessories and a control station shall not
exceed $20,000 from Capital Sales Tax. Alternatives: Not purchase the radios,
delay the
The Board approved a resolution approving an agreement with Wiedenmann, Inc.for
an emergency repair project to the sanitary sewer main located near 71st Terrace
and Willow in an amount not to exceed $155,000.00. Late September 2018 Public
Works investigated a guard rail concern in the area of 71st Terrace and Willow.
Before a repair plan could be put in place, we received another call at the
beginning of October about roadway settling. On October 1st staff responded to
the area for further investigation of the roadway, creek bank and to
investigate the sewer manhole exposed from bank erosion. On October 1st staff
found significant erosion of the northwest bank and manhole WWS132 is showing
external deterioration (loose and leaking mortar joints) and an apparent leak
at the connection of the pipe to the manhole that is allowing inflow into the
sanitary system.
On October 3rd, staff took emergency measures to protect the public
from the compromised area on the north side of 71st Terrace just east of
Willow. Staff established datum points to determine the extent of roadway
movement and determine the most practical method of correcting the areas
affected. On October 8th, after additional rains over the previous weekend, it
was determined the roadway had dropped an additional ½ inch just east of the
box culvert, and additional erosion was noted in many areas.
The staff has determined the deterioration to be serious and ongoing
and repairs need to be made on an emergency basis. Due to the urgency of the
situation staff has reached out to Wiedenmann, Inc. to get an estimate for
making the repairs outlined in the attached project sheet. Wiedenmann, Inc.
estimates a construction cost of $138,895.00 (as attached). This cost estimate
is based on a time and materials cooperative agreement being utilized through
the City of Lee’s Summit.
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Comments
Look at the meetings they aren't even interested in city business they talk about drinking buddies, coffee clubs, and side bets but when it comes to city business they say litterally nothing.
I added up all the fees and licenses. They come in at over $2500.00.
Are you so naive that you do not believe these costs are not passed back to the homeowner and consumer?
Either you worked for the government all your life or your in that ever-shrinking bubble on Facebook that thinks everything is okay that comes out of the Mayor's office.
But you are definitely wrong on this one.
Transparency is a word they do not even know how to spell at city hall. Keep up the good work Paul. You bring light to things they do not want people to know about. Good job!
X2!!
BTW... if you have three or four pets, you should consider it a luxury and pay the extra fees without complaint. I suspect though that many, many Raytowners do not bother with licensing their pets.
There were food trucks at all the outdoor events this summer. The food trucks that were at the music in the parks events were up by the road so they could stay on even ground. There were several food trucks and food vendors at the arts festival also. The only two reasons I can think of that you didn't notice them are because either you weren't there or you were so busy complaining about everything that you didn't see them. Which is it?
So, let's do the math. $160 + $120 + $40 = $320.00.
Now you know how much a food vendor pays to attend one event in Raytown. If the vendor attends the legal limit he is allowed to under the schedule (five events annually) you can add another $120.00 (yep, that's right, each event has another $40 tagged on to it.
I wonder if those fees were charged at the annual musical festival Raytown holds. I clearly remember a tent where beer was being sold. But I did not see a license displayed anywhere. Or if the vendors at the Mayor's five concerts on the green space this summer paid the fees.
How about the craft beer festival held annually in Raytown in the green space. There were over 25 vendors at that event. Did each of them pony up with $200 for the party. Didn't see any licenses on display at that event either.
There are some places where those licenses and fees are enforced. If you own a liquor store in Raytown you have to buy a license to operate. If you open up on Sunday, you are required to buy an additional license!
And people say Raytown is a business friendly town.
What percentage of single family homes in this city are corporately owned? And of those homes, how many are owned by out of town corporations?
Andy Whiteman
Wish they were that fast in fixing the streets around here like 59th between Raytown Road and Blue Ridge cutoff.
You're exactly right. Even if I owned a dog, the license went up a whole $5 a year. If that makes owning a dog prohibitive, then you don't need a dog. The cost of impounding a dog is higher, but perhaps it should be. We see posts all the time on Facebook about dogs running loose, or someone's dog has got out. If the owners took better care of their animals, impound fees would be a moot point. I personally don't eat from the food trucks. There's nothing wrong with the food, except it's full of salt and fat, and the prices are too high.
Many years ago the situation got so out of hand that Missouri passed a constitutional amendment called the Hancock Amendment. The Hancock Amendment was approved because local jurisdictions, like Raytown, became heavy handed in the passing of taxes. It required a vote of the people on all tax increases.
Many cities and counties answered by creating fees and licenses in an attempt to skirt the law. As you can see, they are at it again.
I guess you can live in a bubble and pretend none of this effects you, but it really does. It's kind of like a stone thrown into a pond. The stone may only hit the surface of the water at a particular point, but the ripple effect of it hitting the water affects everything in the pond.
I like your use of this analogy:
"It's kind of like a stone thrown into a pond. The stone may only hit the surface of the water at a particular point, but the ripple effect of it hitting the water affects everything in the pond."
I see it possibly affecting (not effecting) me by my neighbor with 4 dogs maybe deciding that one is enough. Then I will have 3/4 less barking and dog poop along my front walk to deal with.
Wow. Thanks for taking the time to write four paragraphs of absolutely nothing. Yes, we know all about the Hancock Amendment.
Let me be more direct, and if you cannot answer the question with facts then spare us all the butterfly effect philosophy eh? What dollar amount can you quantify that pet fees and food truck fees will cost someone that does not own a pet or food truck, or use food truck services?
If the city charges vendors fees so high they choose not to sell, that's less sales tax. Sales tax is a main source of income. Less sales tax means an alternative funding source or no funding. So raise the rates on them and you will in effect raise either your property tax or vehicle maintenance cost.
As.far as pet fees. Already most don't register, raise the rates and fewer people will. This means the city pays higher fees when one is impounded, with less money from permits that's more from the general fund.
So as many (except you) can see, it behooves us to be business friendly.
Also, the MO supreme court ruled the fees are a form of tax, so after 3 no tax votes... the city still raised taxes. Way to represent the citizens.
I salute you! Comeback of the day.
"Shooting after shooting" would have happened anyway despite the return of a bloated, grandiose police presence. And many of these officers walked out of their own accord - the voters didn't show them the door.
You may chalk up the latest incidents to family squabbles, issues between acquaintances...and this area's unstoppable, inexorable, ever-declining demographics.
With the latter, the train left the tracks some time ago.
"Out of touch much?"
"Mount" or "amount"? Dinero wasn't the deciding factor for most of the departures. Only thing that was "strictly on the board" is how they stepped forward and started taking charge of the situation. Good for them.
all he wanted. When you can have your budget reduced by roughly 2.5 million and you can still
have a viable force you know something is wrong.
Both the mayor and chief worked together to try and deep that budget but at least the board had
what it takes to make a hard decision.
It did not hurt when Mayor Sue Franks husband retired from his high paying job, what ws he a
major I think.
Until the Mayor can realize that he is no longer a cop, but the mayor it will be like sandpaper
between all.
I am sure that there will be a few that say they do not have a viable force but I for one take exception with that feeling.