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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Tax Question!
BOARD VOTES TO DIRECT CITY STAFF
TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR A
PARK SALES TAX QUESTION TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS
By a
vote of 7 to 3 the newly sworn in Raytown Board of Aldermen voted to approve a
motion to allow Raytown Parks and Recreation to place a park sales tax issue before the voters. A date was
not set for the tax question to go before the voters.
Placing
the tax question on the ballot was brought forth by Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers,
second by Alderman Jim Aziere.
Newly
elected Board members were blind-sided by the question. It was not on the
published agenda. Myers brought the subject up under a discussion item entitled
“revenue enhancement”. Myers had one
other discussion item which dealt with rental property agreements.
“The
park sales tax question was not on the published agenda. That being the case,
the discussion and vote was out of order,” said Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters.
That
may nullify the vote taken by the Board.
During
discussion Ward 2 Alderman Jim Aziere reminded the Board that the Park
Department currently has a budget surplus of over one million dollars. He said, "The Park Board is not required to carry a reserve”. He went on to suggest that if the Park
Department will not spend their funds on needed improvements within the parks
then the funds should be handed over to the city to be spent on asphalt (for
street re-surfacing).
The exchanging of funds would not be without precedent. Just six years ago the city helped pay
the debt of the Raytown Super Splash USA water park. The Park Board had run out of
funds and had asked for the city’s financial help.
HOW THEY VOTED: In favor placing the tax increase
on the ballot.
YES: Myers, Mims, Bill VanBuskirk, Hunt, Ward,
Mary Jane VanBuskirk, Aziere
NO: Emerson, Walters, Greene
ANALYSIS
. . .
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
At last
Tuesday night’s meeting Alderman Ryan Myers placed a discussion item on the
agenda to determine whether or not a special committee was to be formed to
consider “revenue enhancements”.
As it
turned out, the vagueness of “revenue enhancements” was not an accident.
Half
way through his presentation Myers changed gears and began talking about placing
a sales tax item on the ballot for the Park Board.
He then
quickly made a motion to approve giving direction to the City Administrator to
prepare legislation to place before voters a sales tax question for the Park
Department.
In his
motion he suggested a 60% (parks) / 30% (city) split of the revenue from the
tax. “The other 10%”, said Myers, “would be used as the Board determined at a
later date".
To
which I say, “No thanks . . . been there, done that.”
The
memory of a Board of Aldermen promising a Safety Sales Tax to the voters – and
then breaking the promise in less than one year – is still fresh in my mind.
The
mislabeling of discussion items on a published agenda is not clever. It is sneaky. The agenda item did not have one word in it about a tax proposal for the Park Board.
Ward 5 Alderman Derek Ward reported at the beginning of the meeting that the Park Department has authorized $6,000 to be spent to "create the needs for additional funding" for Raytown Parks". Ward 2 Alderman Jim Aziere shared with the Board that the Park Board had a budget reserve in excess of $1,000,000.00 (one million) dollars.
It was clear from their comments that neither Aldermen was aware of the true meaning of "revenue enhancements" as used by Alderman Myers.
What
was proposed last Tuesday will not go far in repairing the trust that has been
broken between City Hall and the voters.
Rushing Legislation
is Bad Politics
Last
Tuesday’s meeting was a text book example of why it is bad politics to rush laws
through the legislative process. Two items, which in hindsight, were not very
well thought out, were approved by the Board of Aldermen.
One of
those items cost the city $115,495 for the payment of what some view as excessive health benefits
for city personnel. The other set in motion a sales tax package with more
questions than answers.
True,
there was debate on the two subjects. But collectively the debate lasted just
over 20 minutes.
Raytown
taxpayers deserve more attention as these tax and spend items come before the Board.
More
simply put . . . slow down!
The Paul Livius Report
Raytown Board of Aldermen Meeting – April 16,
2019
Mayor
McDonough presented a proclamation recognizing Jacob Dodd as Raytown South High
School Valedictorian.
Tony
Jacob made comments to the Board.
Mayor
McDonough presented a proclamation recognizing National Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week to the Raytown 911 dispatchers.
Mayor
McDonough presented a proclamation of appreciation to Alderman Ryan Myers for
his service as Acting President of the Board of Aldermen during 2018-2019.
The
Board passed an ordinance granting a conditional use permit to remove an
existing monument sign and construct a new monument sign at the same location
at the property located at 9003 E 87th Street. On March 7, 2019, the Planning
& Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit
application by a vote of 5 in favor and 0 against.
Jerry
Applegate, the pastor of Lane Avenue Baptist Church, is requesting Conditional
Use Permit (CUP) approval of a monument sign in an R-1 zoning district. Per
Raytown’s sign regulations, the monument sign type is only conditionally
approved in this zoning district. The new monument sign will be located at the
same location as the current one. The replacement of the existing sign with a
new one will void the legal nonconformity hence the need for a Conditonal Use
Permit. Lane Avenue Baptist Church has been located at this location since
1975, originally operating as 1st General Baptist Church of Kansas City. The
church was the first and has been the only use for the building since it was
constructed in 1975.
A
motion was made and passed to accept the April 2, 2019 General Municipal
Election results as certified by the Jackson County Election Board for the
elected positions of Mayor, City Collector, Alderman Ward I, Alderman Ward II,
Alderman Ward III, Alderman Ward IV and Alderman Ward V. To review the election results, go to . . .
Start
on page 18.
After a
brief reception, the new Board of Aldermen started the meeting.
The
Board passed a resolution appointing a Bonnaye Mims to the position of acting
president for a term of one year.
The
Board passed a resolution approving the appointment of Janet Emerson to the Planning
and Zoning Commission.
Ward 5 Alderman Derek Ward (who also serves as Park Board Liaison) reported the Park Board approved the expenditure of $6,000 to educate voters on the need for a sales tax for parks.
The
Board passed a resolution establishing the rates for medical, dental and vision
insurance for the insurance plan year from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. The City has received the premium rates from
Midwest Public Risk (MPR). Each year, MPR reviews the benefit structure and
pricing to assure the program remains competitive and pricing can support it.
https://www.raytown.mo.us/vertical/Sites/%7B3A1DBD03-39C2-43FA-8CC9-95B16E6438CB%7D/uploads/04-16-19_Webpacket.pdf. Start on page 85.
The
City currently pays nearly all of the premium cost of the insurance (91.35%)
for employee-only coverage. Any employee
choosing this coverage who selects a more expensive option would pay the difference.
The city pays nearly half of the premium for dependent coverage.
The
base plan chosen by the Board of Aldermen will cost the city an additional $115,495
over last year’s coverage.
Board
members directed city staff to explore all options. Board members also insisted
that future insurance packages be brought before the Board with more time for
study by the Board.
The
decision this year was reached with only about 15 minute so discussion. New
members of the Board were not brought up to speed before the decision was made.
The plans were put to bid in the recent past, but MPR has discussed putting
them out to bid again to see if we can improve the situation.
Alderman
Ryan Myers proposed to create a Special Committee to explore what he called “revenue
enhancements” for the City of Raytown. During discussion Mr. Myers explained nearly
all of the members or his proposed committee would be under the age of 35. He
said he intended to ask two members of the Board of Aldermen to also be a part
of the Committee. When challenged on only have a total of three members of the
Board being a part of the Committee Myers replied that more than three members
can be too “messy”.
Alderman
Greg Walters explained the purpose of the Committee was as an advisory
committee. He said, “ . . . the committee no real status beyond the ability to
make recommendations. Ultimately all decisions must be discussed and voted up
or down by the Board of Aldermen in public session.”
The
Board approved the formation of the Committee.
There
being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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Raytown
Council on Aging presents
Senior Expo 2019
May 2nd,
2019
Free to the
Public
Doors open at
9:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m.
Raytown City
Hall – Council Chambers
10000 E. 59th
Street
Raytown, MO,
64133
816-737-6000
21 comments:
Does Alderman Ryan Myers have "rocks" in his head? With 1 million dollars in the Parks and Rec coffers, does he think the citizens of Raytown are going to vote for this tax? There should be a vote to transfer 500,000.00 to the street maintenance fund to fix our awful streets. Have you drove on Blue Ridge Blvd lately from 59th street to 51st street? The street is almost to a gravel state.
This new board isn't going far in restoring trust, the first thing they do is put more taxes on the ballot in a blindside move.
In other news the Muller report is released and we believe it will parallel the state audit of Raytown.
Only Raytown has had more resignations. Basically it says everyone in the campaign meant to do wrong and did wrong but was too stupid to know what they were doing. Perhaps the mayor will claim the same thing.
Already we see a 20 minute discussion on how they've had c9nflicting information for years and never sought a valid answer, and his whole campaign was spent saying rely on experts.
Folks, we are doomed.
The annual audit released a couple weeks ago showed we could be cut 868,000 dollars from the 2018 budget. That's just in one of the 10 funds. Imagine how many police officers we could hire, imagine how many roads could've been repaired.
Again the city is focusing on stripping the citizens of hard earned cash, instead of first looking for expenditure reduction.
Of they have enough money to give 30 percent more COLA than the national 10 average over the past 10 years and 50 percent more than the average over the last 13 years, then turn around and give even more benifits to employees when we already have one of the highest benefits packages in the whole state there's plenty that can be tightened.
Repairing the same stretch 3 or 4 times in a year because of inferior materials and practice doesn't help either, perhaps if we spent some of that extra cash on training and then only bought good materials that would last instead of crap that will only last 3 months we would pay less in the long run.
I have high expectations for this new board especially with the budget hearings starting in the finance committee.
So much for transparency and rebuilding trust among the voter base Alderman Ryan Myers. You pull this with Steve Meyers still on the Board, and he would have tarred and feathered you! Gonna miss that guy.
I will vote NO on any new park tax until the streets are repaved.
Where's the council on youth? Or young professionals? Why the age discrimination?
Just last week there were many who didn't like Myers push for younger smarter groups, but it is okay to spend capital on the people that got us into this mess? What are we celebrating, that they'll be gone soon?! Cheers to that!
I would recommend that the new Alderman call the attorney general's office and the state auditor about this moving of fund.
Chapter 79, which governs 4th class cities is clear on the water as well as past audit finds that state the money for the parks has to be keep separate for other city funds.
Looks like seven members don't either care or understand the law!
I will say think you to the seven for justification of a state audit.
Hey Mr. Mayor, the park dept. does not build roads I guess we could say that more people will come
from out side the city and use our roads that are fast going the way of a gravel road.
Raise taxes that are not for rebuilding our streets, I for one do not like it.
I guess that most of the new board has spoken.
If the under 35 rule is enforced the only other alderman would be Ward I think.
As far as the comment about things getting too messy, what happens during Board meetings every other week? The only bad thing about the last one was Bill droning on and on needlessly.
Senior expo? What about a youth expo?
@3:34 - Thanks for the compliment, but I'm well over 35.
To everyone else - I don't want to speak for Ryan, but please understand that this measure is intended to *prevent* a tax increase. Parks has been pushing to double the tax that provides them with a large part of their funding, but also includes a component that contributes to our storm sewers. By bringing this measure forward to simply *renew* the existing tax, it is my opinion that Ryan was trying to stop a tax increase and to ensure that any tax renewal that went forward included the storm sewer funding. I any event, that was the reason I voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance. I want to prevent any sort of tax increase for parks while also ensuring that we don't lose our existing sewer revenue.
I sincerely believe that we now have a board that is focused on finding a solution to our streets and roads situation.
Now 59th street has been re-paved again do to the first "shoddy" payment job, is City Hall/tax payers going to send the final bill to Neal Clevenger of Raytown Water Company to make him pay for the original damages to the street due to his old rust water lines that he refuses to upgrade?
All due respect. Streets and roads are important, but be careful being single focused and letting every other department fail, but giving us okay streets.
Thank you Mr.Ward for your tax preservation motives, but I'm fully capable of deciding if I want to allocate an *additional* 14 dollars a year towards the outstanding parks that serve Raytown citizens.
@April 24, 2019 at 6:53 AM -- My understanding is that the first layer of pavement was always intended to be a temporary solution. I believe they needed warmer weather to finish some of the concrete work and they didn't want to put down the final pavement until that was complete.
Alderman Ward in reviewing your note you state that your vote was one that was simply a *renewal* of these existing tax which sunshinines in 2020. Pulling back the covers actually reveals the board vote you supported actually DECREASES the % of the sales tax the parks dept to 60% and increases the % of the tax going to stormwater from the previous approved tax vote of 2010. Please just be honest and put the truth out there. The uphill battle for the new board at this point is restoring trust and transparency. Time to get started!
MR Ward,
Could the "Renewal" include the "Removal" of the storm sewer piece or at least spell out in the ballot language the split.
As you are mostly aware there is little to "NO" trust in the Board of Alderman when it comes to taxes and how they are spent.
Although several things come to mind it really comes down to to simple things.
1st - The way it was hid from the taxpayers that part of the last park "renewal" would have funds for storm sewer. To many of us see this as a "NEW" tax being it allowed the funds to be spent on things other than the parks and actual takes funding from the parks.
2nd - The ongoing lies on how the need for the additional tax is going to be used by the city. Best example is the public safety sales tax, which never got us the additional officers. On top of that call it what you want from city hall, but it was a "Shell Game" to have funds lost because of the miss guided decision to move forward with the TIF related to 350 Live otherwise known as "Walmart".
I do feel for anyone on the Board of Alderman right now as you have an up hill fight to prove the the "VOTERS" the elected officials are going to be more transparent and honest with our tax dollars.
I hope this starts with 59th Street, but so far to many of us are "NOT" impressed with the repair and lack of actions against the responsible utility and this most likely will be the downfall of the next tax request "Renewal" or "New" put before the voters.
If we the voters cannot see improvement why should we keep throwing money to waste!
Again with the State Audit. It isn't needed because city staff and former alderman and the mayor know and follow all laws and would never do anything wrong. They make no mistakes, are perfect, and are the best in the whole wide world. At least that's what some say.
So are you sayong that a road that was almost impassable for 3 years had repairs scheduled in the middle of winter with the knowledge there wasn't time to complete it? These are the "experts" the mayor talks so much about.
I will vote NO on any road bond now, seeing the city is having to pave the same stretch twice and intentionally so. It shows they just waste money and no one seems to hold them accountable. The above poster brings a good point out, the PSST was only used to bolster the failing TIF. We didn't get more officers during these 9 years, and money is being sucked from parks and storm water to cover the mayor's lack of a refi. Then we gave away the ambulance service to the FD which we now have another new everlasting tax. I voted from the switch because the coty showed they couldn't run it, but the FD did a great job during the transition. I only hope they continue.
@April 26, 2019 at 9:55 AM - It is a renewal of the tax at the 1/8th cent rate. As Mr. Myers proposed it, the internal allocation would be a bit different. But that can still be negotiated as we move the bill. But from the perspective of the tax payer, it is a renewal of the tax at the same rate.
@April 26, 2019 at 11:50 AM - I believe that is exactly the plan -- to specify the allocation. As I understand it, this tax is proposed pursuant to a specific state statute that allows 4th class cities to provide for storm sewers and parks in a single tax. The amount the city can levy under this statute is limited. I believe the limit is 1/2 cent total. So any money that is specifically dedicated to parks or sewers reduces the amount that the other (parks or storm sewers) can raise and spend.
@April 27, 2019 at 1:17 AM - I haven't been on the board for three years, and I don't live in that area, so I don't know when the road started failing. However, I believe you. All I can say is that once the work began, public works attempted to create as little disruption as possible. One of those measures was putting down a temporary pavement so that they could open the road. At least, that's how I understand it.
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