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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Day in Raytown
Remember to vote Tuesday, November 5, 2019. There is only one issue on the ballot. The City of Raytown has 1/8 cent sales tax on the ballot. If it is passed, 75% of the sales tax revenue will go to the Raytown Parks and Recreation. 25% will be used for storm water improvements.
Remember to vote Tuesday, November 5, 2019. There is only one issue on the ballot. The City of Raytown has 1/8 cent sales tax on the ballot. If it is passed, 75% of the sales tax revenue will go to the Raytown Parks and Recreation. 25% will be used for storm water improvements.
Aside from some chatter on social media,
there has not been much of a campaign for or against the 1/8 cent sales tax.
What little that has been published is puzzling. This past
weekend supporters of the tax increase were distributing a campaign card in
Raytown neighborhoods. The card, shown in part below appears to have a typographical error on it that confuses the issue.
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| 28% or 38% of Parks funding comes from the 1/8 cent sales tax. Which is correct? The ballot language clearly says the tax split is 75% for parks, 25% for Storm Water Control |
The tax, when was first submitted to voters in 2010 called
for a “split” of the tax revenue between storm water and parks. However, up
until 2015 the entire amount of money collected went directly to the Parks
Department. It was not until 2015 when the Board of Aldermen created the 75% -
25% split.
The card suggests that only 28% (in the
left column) or 38% (in the right column) shows the amount of money going to
Parks. Both figures are incorrect. The ballot language specifically assigns 75%
of the money collected to go to the Parks Department, with 25% going towards storm water runoff projects in the city. The official ballot language is shown below.
SAMPLE BALLOT CITY OF RAYTOWN, MISSOURI SPECIAL
ELECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019
QUESTION 1 Shall the
City of Raytown, Missouri continue to impose an existing sales tax at a rate of
one-eighth (1/8) of one percent for the purpose of funding Local Parks/Storm
Water Control within the City for a term of five (5) years? The monies received
from the Local Parks/Storm Water Control sales tax shall be distributed with Local Parks receiving
seventy-five percent (75%) and Storm Water Control receiving twenty-five percent (25%)
for their respective functions.
Proponents say the tax is technically a “renewal”. This would mean the tax is already in place and approval would mean a continuation of the tax.
Opponents are quick to point out that
should the tax fail, Raytowners will see their sales tax drop by 1/8% of a
cent. Therefore it is, in reality, the same tax, yet new because the current tax expires next August.
They also correctly point out the tax could be re-submitted to the voters at a more even "split" of where the tax dollars will be spent on next April's ballot should the tax fail to gain voter approval.
Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at
7:00 p.m.
25 comments:
Doesn't the parks department have a million dollars in their savings account?
I am voting NO because the parks are safe and aren't usable. They brag about having flowers in the medians and gloss over the potholes on the roads. We've got more important things to pay for than building up their reserves.
I remember with the last 3 that failed, we already had the highest taxes in the state. Now with the school and fore getting more and the city promising a huge bond issue i have to vote no. Plus they still have a year. They can come back woth a better proposal. Start fixing the parks and spending some of the million they have in savings.
Thank you for the information on the upcoming election.
It would be interesting to find out how much money the city is wasting for this special elections. I guess when you have over a million dollars in reserve for parks this is just a small percentage, but a huge sign of the ongoing waste.
I would also be interested in who paid for the information that was presented in some of the neighborhoods as the state does require a disclosure notice. However, based on the inability for city staff to follow the state sunshine laws I wouldn't except the city to follow election laws.
Clearly if we would hire the professionals those tied to city hall want us to believe actually work for the city we wouldn't have the violations with the sunshine law nor would we have over a million dollars for parks that is not being spent will our city greed has them asking for more and more.
Every election is important. Please vote Tues., Nov 5.
Andy Whiteman
Wait, they spent our tax money to lobby us on getting more tax money? How about fixing the tennis courts, pond walls, security cameras or patrol? What a waste of money.
The parks are dark at night and not just after curfew but when the sun set (early now in winter) and that makes it unsafe, instead of splitting the cost of the election you chose to go in alone so you could spike the electorate. Shame.
My wife and I are usually a YES for more money to run our city but in this case we are voting NO to protest the 75/25 spit in the 1/8 cent tax proceeds.
If the city comes up with a 50/50 split, we will vote YES!
Raytown Newbie
Getting ready to do my part by voting today.
Vote "NO" as there is "NO" reason any department needs over a million dollar reserve in our city!
Who was the project manager who thought it was a good idea to do work on both sides of Raytown road at the same time?
The people have spoken! Yes - 1,914 No - 441 in favor of continuing the park sales tax. That's almost as many votes as when there's a mayorial election. Proof the people like the parks and approve of the job the park board is doing.
9:24
No it is what happens when the "NO" side didn't get the true out about the reserve funds and the lack to fix anything.
The inability of the park director to have accurate records that show each year that supersplash actually lost money.
Yes, lost money even in the "good" years as he calls them because nothing was done about major repairs, which is why the park is not open.
Sounds like you lost because you didn’t do your job and get the word out. In politics we call that sour grapes.
There was no real NO effort put forward. The miswritten handouts and poor me emotional plea won the day.
I read an article that the city had an appeal on the sunshine case it lost and 2 of the 3 judges seemed to lean toward the city being in the wrong. Why didnt the city put out a press release? Why isnt this on facebook like other things the city does...?
No sour grapes here
Just wondering how much longer this Board of Alderman will allow a department to sent on a million dollars and do nothing about it.
However, this is Raytown and the School Board has done nothing about Markley so not holding my breath the Board of Alderman will do the right thing.
Not sure I understand the thought process that we have professionals working for the city when they cannot manage funds!
With 19000 registered voters that's only 1 and a half percent. Abysmal. And I think the mayor's race had twice that many voters. Still only a 4 percent rate. Much less than KC which typically sees 19 or more percent. And far less than the 85-95 percent seen in Afghanistan.
6:07 - you "read an article that the city had an appeal on the sunshine case it lost and 2 of the 3 judges seemed to lean toward the city being in the wrong." What appeal was this? The rest of us heard the city won that case? Have you been drinking the joker's koolaid again?
I've been in Raytown 30 years. During that time, there have been between 3,500 and 4,000 votes cast at the mayor election. It's half that amount when we're only electing aldermen. Yes, that's a poor number. I think everyone who is in city government would like suggestions about how to get the people out.
Ok so Nov 7 12:39 post.
You sure about your Math??? SMH....
Who recalls Raytown before Sue Frank's administration!
A time before we had a city administrator and other over paid department heads that leaves those of us who pay taxes wondering why we are spending money on individuals who are not doing anything.
I recall a time in Raytown when if you had an issue with the city or code violation you called your alderman and it got fixed.
Now if you call your alderman you get told that you can just call city hall and one of the staff will take care of the issue. When you try to explain that doesn't work for the class of individuals they call professionals. I have had my alderwoman get mad at me when I tell her that over priced city administrator needs to step up his game. Maybe drive the city one a week and look at what his mismanagement is doing. All of these leading to her hanging up on me.
Why is it our elected officials forget they work for us as well as the overpaid staff at city hall.
Like him or hate him at least our mayor sees the issues, but hands are tied by this same board.
The city needs more police on the street and thank you mayor Mike for seeing this issue. If the board would move the do nothing, but accept a paycheck from unneeded and overpaid department heads, we could have more police on the street.
I want to know how much these frivolous lawsuits are costing the city in attorney's fees.
Nov 8, 1227. Weird that's the rumor going around. Guess those independence Facebook admins have blind followers.
1716CV24654 was settled in April, but
1716CV24321 which cost the city 40 grand and found the city intentionally violated state openness laws and court orders to be transparent the city appealed and had their hearing in the Western District last week. Oral arguments seemed to show 2 of the 3 judges found our clerks actions reprehesable. WD82557 if you cared.
Maybe in the future trust but verify....
133 pm.
Disagree it's the board that is kept hostage by the mayor. Luckily they've been standing up and took the courage they mustered to kill the golden calf. We still are top heavy but it's not near as bad as it was. One more round should put us in a way better place.
November 7 12:39 - Where do you get 19000 registered voters? The Jackson County election website said there were 21000 registered voters for ALL the races on Tuesday. It wasn't only Raytown, but also Buckner and the State Rep race.
1:33 PM, Good ideas! When I lived in Raytown Alderman Aziere was great in handling code violations. One of my neighbors called him at least twice and the issues were resolved!
Long ago, I have said that each Alderman should WALK (not drive) his/her ward at least once a year and department heads should be required walk a different area weekly so that a large area is covered yearly. The reason for walking and not driving is because more is seen walking. I walked my dog at least 3 times daily and I saw code violations and other issues that I never would have seen driving. Walking is a good way to get to know the city and observe problems.
Andy Whiteman
Which frivolous lawsuit are your talking about? The one where the city was fined over $40,000 for not following the Sunshine Law? It is still ongoing. The city lost the first round and was fined for not turning over the information as directed to by Court. It is now going to the appellate court for round two. There would not have been a lawsuit at all if the city would simply follow the Sunshine Law.
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