To view the meeting covered in the following story . . . 

USE THIS LINK . . . November 1, 2022 Board Meeting

GO TO ITEM SIX TO VIEW THE MAYOR/BOARD PAY INCREASE DISCUSSION

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Aldermen approve pay increases
for the Mayor and themselves

In a surprise move the Raytown Board of Aldermen voted to increase the salary of the Mayor and of the Board of Aldermen at last Tuesday night’s meeting. The controversial move less than one week before voters will decide the fate of two historically high property tax increases. 

The pay increases for the Mayor and Board of Aldermen will not go into effect until after the next city election scheduled for early April of 2023. 

Following are the increased salaries for the position of Mayor and the ten Board of Aldermen.

INCREASE FOR THE MAYOR:*
The current annual salary is $15,512.60. The increase takes the salary up to $16,562.60.

Mayor’s annual salary:                      $12,750.00   ($1,062.50 per month)
Mayor’s annual car allowance:         $  2,700.00   ($225.00 per month)
Work Comp / FICA                             $   1,112.60   (based on current salary)

INCREASE FOR THE BOARD ALDERMEN:*

The current annual salary is $5,824.00. The increase takes the salary up to $6,424.00.

Board member’s annual salary:        $  5,100.00   ($425.00 per month)
Board member’s car allowance:       $     900.00   ($  75.00 per month)
Work Comp / FICA                              $     424.00   (based on current salary)

*Elected officials may also purchase health, dental and/or vision insurance at cost through the City's group insurance plans.

The timing of the ordinance is interesting. Next Tuesday voters will go to the polls to vote on some very expensive property tax increases.

Just as interesting is that the Mayor and the majority of the Board of Aldermen slammed the legislation through in just one night. 

Missouri State Statutes and Raytown City Ordinances require that all legislation be read in public session twice before a vote is taken. The reason for this law is so that the public will have time to learn of laws that affect them before their elected representatives cast their votes.

 

To by-pass that requirement, Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers made a motion to suspend the regular rules of the meetings the Board to approve the legislation in one night. The vote requires a two-thirds majority of the Board for approval to suspend the rules. Alderman Ryan Myers said he “would rather not drag this along any further”.

 

At the time of the meeting, the Board had been discussing the issue for just over six minutes.

 

Alderman Walters objected to the suspension of the rules. He said, “I believe we should hear from the public on these pay raises before we vote. Other than the people in this room we have not had any feedback from anyone.”

 

HOW THEY VOTED:

On a motion to suspend the rules, Motion by Ryan Myers, second by Loretha Hayden.

 

YES:           Aziere, Hayden, Mary VanBuskirk, Emerson, Myers, Mims, Ward

NO:            Walters, Bill VanBuskirk

ABSENT:   Scott 

 

A similar vote pattern was recorded for the question increasing the salary and car allowance increase for the Board of Aldermen. The only difference being that Alderman Derek Ward joined Walters in opposition to the increase.

 

It is interesting to note that the ordinance will not take effect for five months when the next city elections will be held.

Apparently the Board did not want the public focused on pay increases for elected officials when campaigns for office begin in 2023. This tactic is not new to City Hall Board meetings. The original property tax proposal, which was voted down in the August 2, 2022 election, was approved for the ballot two months before the election was held. The move technically removed the item from public input and debate through the election.

The current property tax increase to be voted on next Tuesday, was placed on the ballot in an emergency meeting of the Board of Aldermen. This kept public debate from taking place at Board meetings as well.

This all speaks to the issue of transparency at City Hall. As Alderman Walters told us during our discussion on the so-called "suspension of the rules" . . . 

"I was not aware they were going to do this with five months before the next election. At the same time, I am not at all surprised. Suspending rules at  regular meetings, emergency meetings,  and deciding important tax issues months ahead of deadlines occur all to often at Raytown City Council meetings. Such tactics stifle public participation in debate on issues before their local government."

They Are Here!

A Jackson County Assessor was spotted along 350 Highway as the reassessment process begins in Raytown.

If your house has been re-assessed there will be a blue door hanger left on your home notifying you the process is complete.

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In this week’s Raytown Report . . .

• Rice / Tremonti invitation to its return of the Soup and Craft event.
• The final installment of the Raytown Voter Guide. This week's highlight is entitled "Just the Facts".
• Our Friendly Ghost is back - photo and greeting from the Raytown Report.
• The rest of the seven page Raytown Voter Guide.
• Raytown Democrat Association turns down a request to endorse Raytown Property Tax Questions One and Two.

The Rice-Tremonti Fall Soup and Craft Fair is back! The Covid 19 virus shut down the event the past two years. 

The home was recently remodeled back to its original design. Visitors have compared walking through the house as taking a step back in time. 

Do not miss this opportunity for some delicious soups and desserts plus a chance to visit with our fellow Raytowners as well.  Scroll down past the political stories for a full page of information about times, cost, etc. of the event.

 TO VIEW THE REST OF THE VOTER'S GUIDE

SCROLL PAST OUR FRIENDLY GHOST GREETING

Thankfully, our ghost is light of foot.
Otherwise, he would most certainly 
crush our roof!

The angle of the picture makes the photograph of our celestial guest appear to be taller than our house.

In reality, he is only about three feet tall.

He is a friendly ghost. Slow to anger and a perfect house guest for the season.

From us at the Raytown Report,

have a safe and spooky Halloween. 

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To our Raytown Report readers:

The November 8^th Election is only a couple of weeks away. We have spent an enormous amount of time visiting with home and business owners. It has been surprising to learn how many people are unaware of the very large amount of taxes that will soon be dumped on Raytown in 2023.

We urge you to talk to your neighbors and friends and remind them to vote on November 8^th.

ONE FINAL NOTE: The November 8^th ballot is extremely long this year. There are 37 races and ballot issues on the November ballot.

The two Raytown Property Tax Questions are the last items on the ballot..

VOTE NO on Raytown Question 1 and Raytown Question 2.

Other Politicial News . . .

RDA turns down request to endorse tax increases
Eastern Jackson County’s oldest continuing political club, the Raytown Democrat Association (RDA) has turned down a request from the pro-tax faction out of City Hall to endorse two property tax increases to be determined on the November 8^th Election.

A spokesman for the club told the Raytown Report, “The voters already told the city “NO” in very clear terms last August 2^nd.  Given the state of the national and local economy and the uncertainty of inflation, we feel it is best to weather the current economic storm. Now is not the time to raise taxes on people who are struggling to make ends meet.”

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