THE FOLLOWING STORY WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR
RAYTOWN'S THREE TAX PROPOSALS
Deserve Three “NO” Votes
BY JEANETTE GENTRY
In January of 2021 the City Administrator signed a contract to pay over $21,000 in taxpayer money to hire a consulting firm to promote the GO Bond Issues. Coupled with the ballot cost it comes to over $40,000. Despite this, many residents did not know these ballot issues existed.
The City says it hired this political consulting firm to
“educate” Raytown voters as to why they should vote for these taxes. A list of
Deliverables include ”Creation of the Brand, Tagline and Talking Points for GO
Bonds”. We guess the brand is OneRaytown.
With 10 aldermen in 10 square miles of a small town, using taxpayer money to pay a consultant for a “Brand” on a tax issue is disturbing.
It is a shame they can tell us how many
road miles we have but not how many road miles
of asphalt $47 million dollars will buy us, while they provide only a vague map with no plan.
Brands are best reserved for soap, cattle, and corporations, not tax increases in smaller towns. Brands are meant to be persuasive by creating a false identity around an idea. Brands shape themselves to what others want you to hear. Brands are not real. Brands are the work of narcissistic politicians that calculate their relationship with you based on their return on investment. The whole thing reeks of manipulation.
Despite the OneRaytown Brand it is sad to see the seething and gnashing of teeth when someone dares to ask a question about an enormous tax increase, or God forbid, dare to disagree with them.
It is a shame the city website is so awful. It is a shame that to get real information you must file a Sunshine Request. It is a shame they can tell us how many road miles we have but not how many road miles of asphalt $47 million dollars will buy us, while they provide only a vague map with no plan.
It is a shame that our elected officials threaten us on social media that if these taxes are not passed there will be no more road work - ever. It is a shame they lead us to believe that the General Fund levy increase will only be spent on roads and infrastructure.
But the biggest shame is that in exceptional inflationary times they did not get or want public input to put a more reasonable proposal before us.
Raytown residents are not hashtags. We are diverse. We have our personal and work lives. We are parents, partners, friends, dog lovers and dog haters and all the rest. It seems that this warm fuzzy slogan is just what they paid for, a Brand.
We are all for improvements, but it must be affordable, especially now. As taxpayers we deserve what we’ve already paid for, for City Hall to engage all taxpayers as One Raytown.
I encourage Raytown voters to Vote No Tuesday August 2nd.
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49 comments:
Guess you don’t have have a problem living on a 1978 tax base! If Raytown does not increase the tax base, the city will die. Things cost a lot more than they did in 1978.
I support this campaign fully! VOTE NO ON ALL 3 TAXES!!!!!
The city govt lies to us all the time! We all deserve to have "free speech" when it comes to raising taxes and other city business, after all, it is our hard earned money!!!!!
That last comment was spot on. I watched the Planning and Zoning session last Thursday night. There were only four guest speakers.
Bonnaye Mims and Mary Jane VanBuskirk were clearly opposed to having miniature goats in Raytown. Ms. Mims' talk was pretty much a lot of passive-aggressive nonsense. I am beginning to think Mrs. VanBuskirk simply does not care much for miniature goats or any kind of animal for that matter. Miniature goats have not tarnished the image of Kansas City, Lee's Summit or Independence.
Why is it good for their image but not good for Raytown?
From what I read it appears that the staff at City Hall has done a good job of setting down clear regulations to keep our streets safe despite the supposed dangers that miniature goats will bring to our city.
Think of all the trouble cities like Independence, Kansas City and Lee's Summit face because of tiny goats marauding through the neighborhoods, terrorizing home owners and eating everything in sight! Oh, I forgot. There has not been any trouble.
God forbid that people outside of Raytown view us as anything but a backwater. Do Mims and VanBuskirk watch the news? Every television and radio station has given very positive reports on the suggestion of allowing people to raise miniature goats. Even the Kansas City Star has allowed positive editorials. This is clearly a step forward for Raytown if we take advantage of it.
To the rest of the Board of Aldermen. Please take a moment to consider the following. What will Raytown gain if miniature goats are approved? A chance to improve the city's image by being open to new ideas and lifestyles.
Or, reinforce the image of a town known for being opposed to damned near every new idea that comes along.
Also, let us be real. How many of us are fortunate enough to live on an acre of land or next to one for that matter for us to even concern ourselves with little goats. I look forward to trying to sneak a peak at them from time to time.
"$40,000 later, they built this sign."
If any of these taxes pass, they can fritter away another 40K on that worthless monolith of a city hall sign....by turning it into a tombstone:
"RIP RAYTOWN 2022"
(Oops. I guess I shouldn't give them any ideas.)
Please post a direct link to the Facebook page "NotTheTimeForThisTax". Not finding it. TIA.
"The City has rushed these items to the ballot to avoid the inevitable reassessment of the value of our homes by Jackson County will apply to our properties AFTER the August 2nd election."
What about business properties? A friend of ours already pays huge money per year to keep up with the county property taxes on a postage-sized lot and a small building situated on 350 Highway. Aren't business parcels already assessed at a much higher rate than residences? How would the passage of these taxes affect his already huge tax bill, and what will happen after the looming county reassessment inevitably pushes that tax bill even higher?
Are the people that are so hung up on the passage of these taxes conveniently on purpose not talking about what will happen to these classes of property, or am I mistaken?
If true, these tax increases may very well cause some businesses to close, or potential new businesses to avoid Raytown to begin with.
To July 14th 9:14 am, you are right! As a small business owner in Raytown for 65 years these 3 taxes will put me out of business and other businesses as well. We are taxed to death by the Fed, State, county, city. We can only take so much and the demographics of people living in Raytown are renters, section 8, and fixed income elderly people that don't have the extra money to spend. You won't see much new businesses coming to Raytown much less people who live here, (what is left of the actual home owners), wanting to sell their houses and get out of Raytown. With out the businesses who pay the real estate taxes, (and they are VERY HIGH), this city will die.
"If true, these tax increases may very well cause some businesses to close, or potential new businesses to avoid Raytown to begin with." "With out the businesses who pay the real estate taxes, (and they are VERY HIGH), this city will die."
Amazing (not amazing) how the proponents of these taxes have never mentioned any of this. They quite naively figure that the corporations that exist on both sides of that small spit of 350 won't be impacted, and will in fact gleefully fill City coffers with extra proceeds upon demand.
Taxes and crime in Raytown are already significant factors. It costs more to insure in certain areas, and believe me, commercial insurance costs are already astronomical, even in the "best" areas. Many real estate departments in major retail have historically avoided Raytown due to those factors alone - they don't even bother to prospect. The polite explanation has always been that Raytown "isn't in preferred marketing". Drive along 350 and add up all the vacant space and the poorly-maintained property that has been for sale for quite some time. It doesn't go unnoticed.
I can think of a couple corporates that were already considering making a u-turn out of Raytown, however obviously there are major costs to do a relocate. There's plenty of traffic on that highway, however during our observations it doesn't push as much business as one might believe - we're aware of several retail units on that corridor that have been consistent under-performers for years on end. Factor in more tax increases, and this may cause these companies to finally make the jump.
No worries, however. It's become quite the tired cliche at this point, but there is still plenty of opportunity in Lees Summit. Eastward Ho, young man.
To July 14, 9:14 and July 14, 4:41. Yes per oneraytown the residntial rate is 19% and the commercial rate is 38%, so yes the tax increases for businesses are double. In November they claimed the use tax would even the playing field for online sales and brick and mortor stores in Raytown and 9 monthes later propose the biggest property tax increase in Raytown's history. Ask them to donate to the cause, the more voters can be educated the better.
Raytown Newbie here.
I'm not a financial genius, but it is clear that with the skyrocketing real estate values seen these past couple years, our taxes will be going up when the county assessor gets through with this year's revaluation. That will be known in a few months. I think the city knows that too and is trying to get these increases voted in before the new appraisals are released.
So, RN says NO, NO, NO to all three.
Please, Raytown neighbors, let your friends and neighbors know what is at stake. Let's get out the NO vote on August 2.
What is your alternate solution to fixing the horrible roads in Raytown?
Wait until the economy improves?
If we do that the cost to fix the roads will be even higher.
Not all of the streets in Raytown are in horrible condition. But the price they are expecting the people of Raytown during a time of high inflation is down right cruel. Add Jackson County raising property values which do raise what we pay annually and you run a real danger of people having to sell their homes because of the burden of inflation and taxation. Some tried to reason with the City Council to lower the amount to be spent to something more reasonable. Only one Alderman agreed. The rest voted for all the increases. This tax package is not a good deal for Raytown. If you value your home you should be voting against all of these extremely high priced bonds. The Federal Government will soon be adding another percentage point to the cost of these bonds. This is the worst time to make and investment like this. Ask any of your neighbors who have a variable rate loan. They can explain what is being proposed and why (if they have any sense) will be voting no three times on August 2nd.
Almost ten years ago the city spent many thousands of dollars to survey and engineer needed repairs and paving for Blue Ridge Blvd from 59th to the north city limits at 47th. As the years went by, the plans were revisited and redesigns were done to include bike lanes which qualified the city for state money to help pay for the work. That was not popular and the project went back into mothballs. During this time the work on 63rd through downtown was done which cut 63rd down to a two lane road going from Raytown Trafficway to Blue Ridge Blvd. and included some strange, to me, parking through downtown. Now I see surveyors working all around town doing more "studies" and I also see from recent meeting minutes that the city is once again doing survey and engineering on sections of roads over by Laurel Hills Elementary school. Some see waste in spending 40K on a not too great sign, but what about the hundreds of thousands spent on surveys and design engineering that seemingly never results in actual construction?
RN is just wondering.
Grandview is receiving $12 million in intergovernmental grants. It appears Raytown has $268,000, of which $225,000 is for Parks. Parks does a great job getting grants, always has. We should expect the same from the city before they ask us for our money. Do your job City.
To: AnonymousJuly 13, 2022 at 8:49 PM
That monument was nothing more than a pissing match so the mayor and his whipping boy could get their way. Waste of money for sure. I will be voting no, not because I don’t want infrastructure improvements, but because the Mayor and city administrator have proven themselves unable to be fiscally sound.
Where do you think grant money comes from? Taxes on people, whether state wise or federal wise. It’s not just free money a good fairy prints out of the blue.
I thought Independence has problems with the over time approved for on police officer to work construction not law enforcement.
However, just learning about 3 new taxes that have been in the works for 2 years is out right criminal. The chair of the committee would not allow questions at the meetings and will not answer them now. The town hall meetings will not answer questions.
I am not sure the news media and FBI are looking at the right city.
There is an article in the Wednesday KC Star in the Editorial section written by a lady about the 3 up coming taxes on August 2nd. She is 100% right on voting NO for the 3 taxes. You need to read the article! She spells out how sneaky city hall is trying to cram these taxes down our throats! The city has persuaded some citizens to vote yes for the above taxes. City hall is serving up the "Kool aid" and they are drinking it right up! If these horrible taxes pass the Kool Aid people will see how much it will cost them in real estate taxes, personal property taxes and any other taxes they can raise and regret they voted for them!!!!
EDITOR'S NOTE: To view Mrs. Gentry's story as published in the Kansas City Star go to our front this week.
To July 19, 4:49 am.
Of course intergovernmental grants come from State and Federal sources - from tax dollars you've already paid. The City should be asking for that money to come back home. And if a good fairy wants to throw in some extra, all the better before asking citizens to cough up 53 million dollars. For Grandview to be getting $12 million in grants and Raytown to be getting $263,000, what's wrong with this picture?
How many property tax dollars did Raytown receive in 2021 vs. 1978? If the dollars are the same, I will vote yes for the two issues that have specific uses. I will never vote yes for a tax that just goes into the general fund with no specified use.
"It is a shame they can tell us how many road miles we have but not how many road miles of asphalt $47 million dollars will buy us, while they provide only a vague map with no plan."
Ms. Gentry, your Kansas City Star editorial SO nailed it. Simple truth cuts deep.
Check out that "map" at "oneraytown.com", for instance.
You know when you take your rambunctious three-year-old to the IHOP or whatnot and the waitress supplies them with a red crayon and something to color on, like a MAP, for instance, in an attempt to keep your kid focused and to NOT dispatch shards of syrup-treated pancake on the floor, onto the seats, on the ceiling? The kid briefly draws some red crayon random circles on the map, then moves on and trashes the joint to the max anyway.
That MAP on the "oneraytown.com"? Re-read the paragraph above.
And the City shelled out thousands for THAT? THOUSANDS!
Sometimes I think that we'd be better off with the three-year-olds at the helm.
And maybe some goats. Whatever you do, don't forget about the goats.
#progoatraytown2022
Little Ryan Myers when you grow up and answer questions:
A.) You don't want to tell the truth
B.) You don't have the education to answer
C.) You don't want the public to know you will profit from a "YES" vote
D.) ALL OF THE ABOVE
Raytown you have a choice and when people refuse to answer questions you shut them down.
VOTE NO AND PROTECT YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY
The City seems to be implying that since the levy hasn't increased since 1978 they are working off the same revenues since 1978. Of course that's not true, higher assessments, new subdivisions, hancock increases on the levy etc. This new levy is a 57% increase with no guarantees how the money will be spent. They are also implying that the levy will be spent on roads and infrastructure. Which roads and what infrastructure? What's that I hear? Crickets?
And how many new sales taxes have been passed in recent history? Capital improvements, transportation, public safety sales tax, use tax last November, a sanitary sewer bond. Right out of the budget is the cigarette tax, Gasoline Sales tax and Motor Vehicle Sales tax.
City Hall threatening that no more money will be spent on roads if this tax doesn't pass is a bunch of garbage.
According to Missouri Constitution Article IV,Section 30, the use for the revenue generated by the Motor Vehicle Sales and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases are restricted to be expended for street purposes only.
The transportation sales tax can only be spent on transportation.
City Hall threatening that no more money will be spent on roads if this tax doesn't pass is a bunch of garbage.
According to Missouri Constitution Article IV,Section 30, the use for the revenue generated by the Motor Vehicle Sales and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases are restricted to be expended for street purposes only.
The transportation sales tax can only be spent on transportation.
I read or heard somewhere that they have been planning this tax increase for the last 3 years. Makes you wonder if they haven't done street work to create a crisis that only new high property taxes will fix.
Time for new leadership at City Hall.
I agree vote NO on all 3.
Ryan Myers refusal to answer questions tells any respective and reasonable person they are to being told the truth.
Honest people answer tough questions....
....enough said!
In April of 2019, Belton placed Proposition R on the ballot for $13,750,000 for transportation GO Bonds. They also placed proposition S Go Bonds on the ballot for $14,250,000 for storm sewers. We assume R stands for Roads and S for Sewers,and probably didn't pay a consultant over $21,000 to come up with that.
Note: City Hall is asking for $47,000,000 for roads and $7,000,000 for storm sewers with no clear plan. City Hall claims 40% of roads are poor.
Belton showed over 60% of their roads as poor, sought citizen input and passed the bonds. After showing they could do what they promised, it looks like the bonds were paid early and renewed -for less money in April.
If you care to see their brief explanatory video check out Question 1, no tax increase street Go Bonds on youtube.
LOL
The city entrance in to private business farmers market was closed this Thursday because of extreme heat.
My family in Northern Missouri doesn't get days off nor do any of their neighbors; all wh are farmers.
I am thankful for true America farms who actually provide food even in the worst weather conditions.
It is your family's chosen profession to be farmers. The people at the farmers' markets choose to be there. What's the point of setting up when it is too hot for any reasonable person to go there in this heat.
Elections have great consequences on our children and families. Most people don't like to talk about politics. Most businesses will not touch the subject with a 10ft pole. Politics controls our lives before our birth and even after we go to our Graves. People may not want to talk about it or even investigate what is going on all around us but our children, families and businesses truly needs us to be. My husband and I have worked hard for our opinions. I pray more people will do the very same. Sincerely Elisa Breitenbach
Lol
It was not to hot for the true farmers market on Raytown Trafficway near the fire station.
Enough said about true farmers market!
I was really shocked to see that the map showing the proposed areas to be fixed was small. Why should I vote yes on something that may never happen in my area? So next year are we to expect that the School Board will want to pass bonds to repair some of the deteriorating school buildings?
Interesting. Me and my wife are NO votes. Looks like we will cancel each other out. Too bad a reasonable proposal that would not run people out of Raytown could not be reached. But I guess that is the price you pay when the City Council wasted an opportunity to meet with real Raytown people where they could hear what they had to say. Instead they decided to railroad this obscenely high priced tax package through in one week. Unbelievable!
Word has reached us at the Raytown Report that people are asking for VOTE NO yard signs on social media.
There are still a few left . . . and they can be found at Doughboys Donuts located in the Woodson Shopping Center at 63rd and Woodson Road.
One final reminder. Election Day is next Tuesday. Please remind your friends and family members to vote next Tuesday.
Voting NO on all 3. Inflation is at a record high and my pay check remains the same. What are these pro-tax and spend people thinking? Perhaps they have an unlimited income. It is costing the average family $400.00 more than it was a year ago to survive. The City needs to live within it means and quite over paying administrative employees. Ask yourself why has the Mayor contributed $3000.00 to the vote yes campaign?
Been watching the stuff on Facebook. Those folks are in panic mode. They are blaming everyone they can name for their problems. They refuse to talk about the our country's economy as it slides into recession. If these taxes pass it will cost Raytowners on limited incomes their homes. It could be the single mother struggling to raise her family. It could be the elderly couple whose pensions just do not provide the safety net they thought they would have in their golden years. It could be the strain put on those who take a second job just to keep up with inflation only to be blindsided by HUGE property tax bills they do not have the money to pay.
Shame on the Mayor and his buddies on the City Council. They rammed this tax increase through in less than eight days. The refused to hold open discussion with the public. They held forums where taxpayers were not allowed to ask questions from speakers.
These property taxes deserve to be defeated. Vote NO three times tomorrow when you go to cast your votes.
Raytown Newbie here. Can someone please explain to me what the Brooking Township is and why we are voting for Brooking Township officials. Google says it is an "inactive Missouri township".
TIA RN
Common sense prevailed.
THANK YOU as always Alderman Walters for your part in protecting the citizens of this community.
To Aug 2nd, 12:14.
A township designates an area. Example: the deed on your home will show the Section, township and range.
"Base and meridian lines are similar to latitude and longitude lines. Use geographic locations, such as prominent features of the area, as reference points.
Townships are rectangular blocks of land about 6 miles square. The squares are gridded and numbered according to their position north or south of the base line.
Ranges are columns of townships set side by side. They are numbered starting at the meridian that runs through the point of origin of each system. Ranges run east and west."
Various TV stations are showing either or both of the bond questions passing. None show them failing. Has the City officially conceded? I had to do some digging to find the 4/7 supermajority rule, and even that was not completely clear.
Answers to questions . . . We did some checking and came up with the following answer(s) to questions readers had sent following last Tuesday's election.
BROOKING TOWNSHIP: As used in an election - Townships, Wards, Precincts are all terms used for political sub-divisions. In the case of Brooking Township, its borders mirror the City of Raytown's borders. Political parties recognized by the State of Missouri include
Democrat, Republican, Libertarian and Constitutional. Each of these parties elect four representatives to represent their area. In Raytown, this political subdivision is named Brooking Township. Brooking Township is represented by two Committeemen and two Committeewomen per party. They are elected every two years during the Missouri State Primary.
The Committeemen and Women in each County govern the local party apparatus. If someone should die or abandon their political office in Missouri the Committee members (of the party affected by the vacancy) will choose the replacement to fill the vacant seat until the next election.
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The two bonds required at 57% majority of the votes cast to win the election. Both of them reached roughly 51% - 6% points short of being approved by enough voters to pass. The tax levy increase was defeated by a margin of 35% YES, 64% NO. The levy needed a simple majority to pass.
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Mayor McDonough released a press release conceding defeat on at least one Facebook page. We believe it was Raytown Scoop. The election results shown on the Raytown Report page came from the Jackson County Election Board.
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We do not know of any laws governing how soon a failed ballot proposition can be returned to the ballot.
The voters have spoken. On the city issues I believe they made the right choice. The city only have themselves, the elected officials, to blame for their defeat. Their secrecy about the cost of these issues was a game changer. When you won't allow the taxpayer to ask questions and get answers you deserve to be defeated. I only hope that these people that tried to push these unpopular issues will never be allowed to work on a campaign for city improvements again.
The taxes. No one really "wins" here. Neither "side".
I voted NO TIMES THREE.
It's not my wish to see Raytown fail, but rather to improve in EVERY area. For a change.
Blaming anyone for not wanting Raytown to succeed is one RIDICULOUS generalization.
The tipping point for me to ONCE AGAIN VOTE NO on any tax increases was predicated somewhat this time around on the "oneraytown.com" website.
1. City admins make 150K and 100K each, correct? Do they not possess basic presentation abilities, coupled with basic web skills?
And on what PLANET is it acceptable to splash out $21,000 to an outside agency for a mediocre effort ”Creation of the Brand, Tagline and Talking Points for GO Bonds”?
I'm astounded at what my dollars DIDN'T buy.
2. The "oneraytown.com" website itself is somewhat rudimentary, with oversized, very generic, inexpensive stock photos that overwhelmed the landing page as well as other pages.
3. The people represented in the stock photos are not diversely represented, which I found to be rather odd.
4. The website's WHOIS is/was set to private. Why?
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If the City cannot be relied upon to adequately present their argument online, then actually go a step further to exorbitantly PAY an outside entity to do it where the presentation STILL falls short, HOW can we trust this City with millions of taxpayer dollars?
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The recent State audit of Raytown received an AVERAGE grade, coupled with remarks that the City had transparency issues.
Citizen’s "trust issues" aren't the product of someone else's imagination or in any way being agendized. Based on past and continuing borderline City performance (IMO), unfortunately, they're all too real.
It starts from this "mayor" and moves right on over to City Hall admin, in my opinion.
We whine, we complain about these individuals, yet we've continued to mindlessly re-elect a couple-few vastly inappropriate people to office, IMO.
PLUS, to my knowledge, there are no means by which to evaluate the performance of the decision makers (management employees) in City Hall.
Perhaps some of these City Hall issues are due to inexperience, lack of related education and/or *non-remediable ineptitude*.
Some of these people at City Hall have had a vastly extended chance to "shine", in my opinion. It's time for them to transfer to other departments, or move on from the City altogether. Again, my opinion.
Start with a (diverse, industry-qualified) citizen oversight committee that monitors and publicly documents the performance of those that work at City Hall.
There are reasons here to be wildly encouraged, IMO. For instance, Ms. Gentry is a superstar. And there are others just like her that have stood out in the past couple months. Let's pursue those people.
City Hall, build my confidence in you, and in a split second I will gladly vote for millions of dollars in community improvements.
Additionally, I for one will continue to wholeheartedly support the community leaders that have stood with us for decades, particularly the individual that publishes this blog.
Personnel. Review, reallocate, and if necessary, REPLACE.
To every Facebook “I need to speak to a manager” male and female Facebook KAREN that has lit their torch and wants heads on a stick, back up! THINK. Don’t waste our time or any further taxpayer dollars. STOP PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. Look into City Hall FIRST. Look at what you got. You have some serious vulnerabilities to address before you go back in, IMO.
Our NO's may have actually saved this City.
Many thanks to Jeanette Gentry. Ms Gentry, you should feel great that you saved the homes of many of us on fixed incomes.
She flat told City Hall to cut the request in half and they turned a deaf ear to her.
Hell hath no fury like that of a scorned woman. You go girl!
Raytown Newbie here.
Thanks for answering my question on the Brooking Township. And a big thank you for providing a forum for us to have a convo about these Raytown issues.
RN
"Hell hath no fury like that of a scorned woman. You go girl!"
Amen-amundo.
It's a shame that the "leadership" of this City doesn't understand that we had a right to vote our conscience and say "NO".
Hopefully some new resistance groups will continue to form and flourish due to this latest City debacle.
Ladies, we all need to do a coffee klatch sometime.
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