To view the meeting covered in the following story . . .
USE THIS LINK . . . November 1, 2022 Board MeetingGO TO ITEM SIX TO VIEW THE MAYOR/BOARD PAY INCREASE DISCUSSIONUSE THIS LINK TO Comment OR VIEW COMMENT PAGEAldermen 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.
for the Mayor and themselves
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)
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)
Just as interesting is that the Mayor and the majority of the Board of Aldermen slammed the legislation through in just one night.
- 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.
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.
The November 8th 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 8th.
ONE FINAL
NOTE: The November 8th
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 8th Election.
A spokesman for the club told the Raytown Report, “The voters already told the city “NO” in very clear terms last August 2nd. 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.”
77 comments:
Mayor Mike has taken back to his Facebook page and is chastising anyone who does not support his high property tax proposals. You fooled me the first time Mr. Mayor. Things have changed. Our economy is in terrible shape and I am beginning to worry about how I can afford to keep our standard of living when all these taxes are being dumped on us.
As the old saying goes. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I will a NO vote this time around.
"Mayor Mike has taken back to his Facebook page..."
I propose "An Evening With "Mayor Mike". A Question and Answer Session Regarding the Multiple Raytown Property Tax Increases"
With Mayor Mike, front and center, solo, en solitaire, sitting on a folding chair, at a venue to be mutually decided upon. Spotlight optional.
If he's responsibly supporting all these increases, he should have no difficulty with readily answering pointed, in-depth questions from both "sides" in exquisite detail from concerned citizens in a live forum.
I have lots of questions. And I promise to be completely objective, as should everyone else.
So folks are blaming the poor national economy on a local mayor? That's rich.
Vote red in November to get our country back. EVERYTHING this administration has done has been a disaster...open border, crime, inflation, Afghanistan, energy dependence on other countries, Covid mandates, and war on parents. Yes things are just fine!!
The brochure about Questions 1-2 (increased taxes) was money very well spent, thank you.
I was very disappointed when the Internet Sales Use tax was passed. It seems that many folks forget that one never votes on the goal itself (e.g., better roads, improved libraries). Instead, issues put to a vote are always and only about HOW to accomplish the goal. I shake my head in disbelief when someone says, "Yeah, we need roads, that's why I voted 'yes'." No, silly, it was never about the roads. Thank you again, Elisa Breitenbach!
== I propose "An Evening With "Mayor Mike". A Question and Answer Session Regarding the Multiple Raytown Property Tax Increases" ==
GREAT idea. Instead of relying upon the usual three or four customary online minions to do their bidding, how about the "top" elected official convene a get together and actually answer questions from his constituents?
I as well intend to be objective, however I do expect honest, factual and detailed answers.
At this point, I firmly have no intention of voting "yes", especially if the people that are attempting to ramrod through these tax increases are unwilling and/or unable to answer simple questions.
"At this point, I firmly have no intention of voting "yes", especially if the people that are attempting to ramrod through these tax increases are unwilling and/or unable to answer simple questions."
If the people that we elect are incapable of comprehending the basics or even the finer points of (in this case) tax increases that will encumber people for years on end and may in fact, worst case scenario, put them out of their homes or cause businesses to relocate, HOW, in good conscience, are these people running for re-election, and more importantly, WHY do we keep re-electing them?
THEY are the people that need to be front and center with the commentaries and answers, NOT the clan from Facebook.
Just received my yearly house payment adjustment due to property taxes and home insurance and my house payment is going up 50.00 per month. That hurts!
Now Raytown want these go bonds to pass with "yes"?; Hell No! Not with the county wanting to raise personal property taxes, realestate taxes, sewer taxes, Spire wanting rate increases and food, gasoline and what ever companies can raise, I can't afford it. My husband and I work full time and no kids and we live in a 1959 house, 1400 sq feet. God help these people who have 300k to 500k houses and kids, they will be living in the streets. The Mayor must think we have money trees in our yard! The mayor must have money trees in His yard!
Wouldn't it be great if the Alderman who keeps pushing new and/or higher taxes and fees on us would explain how much his special elections ate costing Vs actual dollars generated.
Word is Raytown still has not seen a cent from their internet tax.
JUST SAY "NO"
Seventy-nine items to vote on! I thought this must be a joke. So I went to the Jackson County Election Board sample ballot and checked. There really are 79 different races, amendments, etc. to vote on November 8th. And Raytown's two property tax are the very last item we will vote on! I don't know about the rest of you, but I am not taking any chances. I will be starting at the bottom of the ballot so I can cast my two NO votes first!
How do you come up with 79 different races?
Try 37 as you don't vote in every race as you have to live in the specific district for many or city with something on the ballot.
In the end just focus on protecting your money and at least vote "NO" on those 2 Raytown questions.
BTW it is always fun to vote "NO" on any judge!
Thank you for the correction. Our bad for rushing to get published! We have corrected the mistake. We also like the suggestion to start at the bottom of the ballot. Of all the questions and races on the ballot, Raytown Question 1 and Question 2 will have the deepest effect on our pocket books and quality of life.
VOTE NO!
Where can I get a VOTE NO sign for my yard?
Free VOTE NO yard signs are available at Doughboys Donuts located in the Woodson Shopping Center at 11559 East 83rd Street. Ask for Elisa. While your there you might as well enjoy one of their delicious donuts. They are definitely the best!
I was checking out my Facebook page and noticed some back and forth on Raytown Unleashed. Someone sent a post asking for some information about the Raytown taxes. What she got in return was a rant by a couple of other posters trying to force their opinion on her.
Please, if you have any questions regarding the upcoming property tax increase election in Raytown, send us your question here. We will be happy to give you straight answers with verification to the facts we give in our reply.
We want an informed electorate to be voting on November 8th.
"...checking out my Facebook page and noticed some back and forth on Raytown Unleashed. Someone sent a post asking for some information about the Raytown taxes. What she got in return was a rant by a couple of other posters trying to force their opinion on her."
That group has (had) received VERY justified, harsh criticism over the years for banning and blocking people that don't agree with the group owner's opinion - dissenters were automatically labeled as "abusive" for stating an alternate opinion, with the admin generously pushing the ban and delete button.
The "usual suspects" (just a handful, fortunately) continue to pour on the pressure and deride anyone that has any opinion that opposes their own.
That group is NOT sanctioned by the City of Raytown. Although there are a number of very nice individuals that post to that page, the antics of a few continue to cast Raytown in a terrible light. Elected officials have no business posting there.
There are far better sources of information. I suggest that you seek out those resources and avoid that page.
Oddly, tonight Spire is holding a hearing to ask for a 10-11% increase in our rates, to help pay to retain employees. That will be about a $10.00 a month raise.
Mr. Walters, Let me start off by saying "Thank you" for being willing to do something my Alderman will not do, which is answer questions that have come up since the August election. Maybe my Alderman is upset that I went from a hard "Yes" to "Just Not Sure". 1st - I was not happy the issue failed in August, but I accepted the vote of my fellow Raytowners. I don't understand why this issue is back before us this soon and hope you can explain. 2nd - I have recently learned the Alderman who put this on the ballot has refused any questions, which seems very strange as I would think them to have the most knowledge. I understand he was the Chairman of the committee - is that correct?
I will do my best to answer your questions as it pertains to the November 8th Election.
You are correct. Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers is the Chairman of the Committee that crafted the property tax increases for Raytown.
Mr. Myers was very clear that discussion between members of the committee and the public would not be allowed.
I do not agree with his ruling in this matter, but it is his committee and he is within his rights to run his committee as he sees fit.
Regarding the property tax increases being put back on the ballot . . . I agree with you. In fact, I voted against putting them back on the ballot. Politically speaking it was a very poor move, one that certainly will cost the "yes" side of the question some votes.
Even worse is the cost to the city. Raytown's cost for most city elections are run an average of $30,000 per election. In the last year, City Hall has held three elections. One last November that created a 2% sales (use) tax on internet sales. The failed attempt on August 2nd State Primary election, and now, just three months later, the mid-term elections.
The math is simple enough. At $30,000 per election, the city has spent $90,000 in the last year alone. If you add the $20,000 they paid out to a consultant to help "educate" the voters in Raytown on the issue, the total reaches upwards of $120,000!
We all have different styles.
Three years ago, I formed a Park Improvement Committee in an effort to make Raytown parks a safer gathering place. My committee meetings were open to the public and the public was encouraged to join in the discussion.
It was a successful endeavor. We were able to improve lighting, persuade the Park Board to institute private security patrols after curfew, and, bring about the blocking off of parking areas near resident areas.
Under out new Chief of Police there has been cooperation and quicker responses to emergency calls from the public.
I believe those changes would not have been accomplished without the public input and support at our meetings. The public’s participation helped emphasize the need for changes in security at our public parks.
In my view, the result of Mr. Myers Committee has been just the opposite.
From a financial point of view, now is the worst time to bring large tax increases.
I have already heard from constituents who have recently seen their rent increased or homeowners who fear their mortgage payments will increase due to additional property taxes.
The proposal coming from City Hall asks far too much in a time when many people do not have it to give.
For the sake of those in our community who must get by on a limited income, particularly the elderly, I urge everyone to vote NO and turn down Raytown Question 1 and Question 2.
Actions speak louder than words
Alderman spouses might have a "yes" sign, but 3 signs for candidates that are against taxes says where they really are on Raytown's tax questions.
Why should we support these taxes when our elected officials don't actually want higher taxes?
This type of mixed message might be why people around the metro have made fun of Raytown for more than 50 years.
I voted YES a couple months ago. This time I am a firm NO. The reason is simple, I was lied to.
I was told this would be a cup of coffee a day. But unfortunately what was left out is the taxes will also apply to my vehicles and RV. I only found out the county is raising home values after the vote, something I would loved to have known before. It makes a coffee a day turn into dinner each day in cost. From a few dollars to ten or more every day something I just can’t afford right now with medicine and utility prices going through the roof. Rumor is the school district (which always passes) is going for another increase themselves.
"I was told this would be a cup of coffee a day. But unfortunately what was left out is the taxes will also apply to my vehicles and RV. I only found out the county is raising home values after the vote, something I would loved to have known before. It makes a coffee a day turn into dinner each day"
"“Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” Franklin said.
Economic conditions aside, it's doubtful that Jackson County is done with raising our taxes. They are becoming far more creative and aggressive. Too many uncertainties here at this time to heap on even more expense.
So tell me, all these protax people that keep attempting to induce panic by mentioning the escalating price of what the material goods might possibly be if we "wait" to fix the roads? Part of your lament is "Waaah! I'm going to have to have my car wheels realigned!", " Waaah! My front end on my car is being destroyed!" (on Raytown roads), answer this: in the next few years, do you intend on traveling outside of Raytown city limits? Or, if a few residential neighborhood side streets and a few sections of busier roads in Raytown are repaired, do you intend to contain your entire existence to within the 10 square miles of Raytown and hide in your safe place, to eliminate any possibility what so ever of vehicular damage?
No, of course you won't. Guess what? You live in Missouri. The roads outside of Raytown are in poor condition and will continue to be. Many roads are far worse than ours. There's a bridge transition on 435 southbound over I-70 they recently and at great expense reconstructed almost broke an axle when I drove my pickup over it this week. You can almost go airborne there. There was no way to see it or avoid it, much like it will be impossible to avoid each and every road issue outside of Raytown.
Bad roads didn't just happen yesterday. Vehicles just didn't start getting damaged by poorly-maintained roads yesterday. We do what we can to avoid the obstacles in life and "fix" what we can WHEN we can until then. It's called being an adult.
Many of us are running on some pretty tight margins. Some of us temporarily, some of us for the rest of our lives. Between being put out of my home or fixing my vehicle, I'll take my chances and continue to drive carefully at this time. And continue to vote NO to these taxes until they come up with a better plan. Throwing money at this isn't going to accomplish what you want, and on top of that, there need to be more assurances beforehand that the money will be spent wisely by people that are qualified to make those decisions, with this amount of money that will be involved.
Come back to the drawing board with a better plan and proof that you can execute it as you promise you will.
Death and taxes are indeed certainties in this life. So are bad roads.
October 21, 2022 at 5:13 PM
I won't be voting yes on any more school district taxes especially since there is talk of closing some schools.
The following exchange was noted today on that Raytown page, "Unleashed", between a citizen and Raytown "Mayor" McDonough:
Citizen: "He can't answer questions from his citizens, but loves to tell them they are uneducated!!"
McDonough: "try a new mantra (sic)"
Citizen: "how about You???.... (sic)"
McDonough: "have a nice life in La la land (sic)"
Although I would never agree that it's appropriate for a citizen to attack an elected official or anyone else online, no matter how accurate their sentiments may or may not be, I find it HIGHLY OBJECTIONABLE that this "Mayor" continued to stoke the argument by responding with further insults that have nothing what so ever to do with the concern at hand. His online behavior casts Raytown in a bad light.
Tit for tat petty useless online skirmishes are NEVER appropriate, ESPECIALLY when an elected official responds to them, and then loses self-control and continues to engage.
Don't lecture anyone ever again about "ethics", sir.
The correct, professional response, "Mr. Mayor", would be to have no comment at all, to rise above negative, unproductive remarks with silence.
This further justifies why our elected officials need to steer clear of the Raytown Facebook groups.
What an embarrassment.
"The following exchange was noted today on that Raytown page, "Unleashed", between a citizen and Raytown "Mayor" McDonough:"
I agree with your opinion that this behavior doesn't belong on SM, but did you notice his follow-up response on the same thread?
"...let me help you out.
Average for a $150,000 dollar house:
.60 x365 = $219 a year.
How's that?"
What a minute. Fact check please.
And "easy peasy", as he also remarked?
"Easy" -> "Peasy" -> Queasy.
I've never felt so uneasy about voting for something like this - and no one has provided any additional valid reasons this time around for me to reconsider.
Apparently the mayor believes he can insult his way to victory. Add me to the list of those that are disgusted with his bullying tactics. I have seen what Jackson county is ready to do to the cost of our property tax. I am certainly not going to vote another tax of a 24.5% increase on our cars. Doesn't he know the county put out estimates that show our property taxes on our homes is going to go up 30% to 36%.
Count me a NO vote. At my house there are two of us. So count us both as NO.
I don't understand why some believe that if the bond issues pass, all the streets will be repaved. Very few streets will ever be repaired, even if all bonds pass. Then we will be asked to approve more to get more streets done. It will never end. NO.
Has anyone heard of new citizens running for Mayor against McDonough this April?
Count me and my husband as No Votes as well. Too much vague information that isn't true. Also, if the school district is asking for tax increases as well, that will be NO also!
The last major bond issue above 30 million was the Walmart TIF, and a few years after it was passed we lost a third of our police dept to keep paying on it. Count me as a NO!
Hello Raytowners,
Does anyone know where we Raytown residents can go to vote in person? I am favoring that over the crowded polls on election day.
TIA... Raytown Newbie
"Has anyone heard of new citizens running for Mayor against McDonough this April?"
We need to raise our standards. Surely there is someone else that is willing to take on this position? #One# person! C'mon!
I agree that those who we elect should refrain from the online bickering. They also need to be aware of who and what they represent when they are sitting atop that podium. Blatant favoritism, always needing to be right, needing to have the last word, cutting off people, speaking over them, yelling, eye rolls, and speaking in a somewhat annoyed or somewhat borderline threatening voice should be avoided. The behavior brings everyone down and prevents productivity in open forums. It makes people cringe, and it brings creativity to a halt for fear of being rained down upon when viewpoints aren't in sync with whoever is conducting the meeting.
If this behavior consistently occurred in most work environments, the offender would have their employment terminated. Yet perplexingly, this is consistently overlooked in Raytown.
What does this say about us? Are our standards #that# low?
Just because someone enjoys being in office, it doesn't mean that they should be in one.
We've put ourselves in this position due to apathy. We can't keep enabling the same individual over and over just because not even one person cares to to run against them. It's all our fault and no one else's. Please, candidates, step up.
During board meetings, I also do not care to hear a tiresome blow by blow recap of their community social events that they have attended during the last week or two. It smacks of self-promotion. Agenda work and citizen input only, please.
The next mayor doesn't need to have advanced degrees or run million dollar companies. They just need to have basic organizational skills, support all businesses and citizens and listen to viewpoints with neutrality and respect and not instantly tense up or "blow" when they think something isn't important when in fact the other party has a quality point, along with the right to speak. This isn't Jerry Springer.
"....Greg Walters and his " NO" gang..."
Are we officially a "gang"? Where may we purchase our leather jackets and who may we recruit to design the logo?
I'm finally a gang member. And so late in life, at that. I'm incredibly honored, as I am sure that the rest of you are as well.
Henceforth, we are the CSG. The " Common Sense Gang".
Initial meeting to elect officers and to draft bylaws TBD.
Wow. Reading the comments this week has been an education. A couple of things stand out.
This, for example. "So folks are blaming the poor national economy on a local mayor? That's rich." I can see why that doesn't make much sense. But is it any different than blaming a world-wide economic crisis on the POTUS?
I do believe that the aldermen should be willing to field questions and should have their facts straight when it comes to proposals for tax increases. That said, is it fair to expect more from an elected official than from anyone else? The same person who used Franklin's quote "...nothing is certain except death and taxes," wants to have a more detailed plan AND PROOF that it can be executed. I agree with the sentiment but as a realist I have to wonder if that's even possible. Proof of something in the future? It feels like the issue is really about trust. When it comes to future expenses, how many of us know what we're going to spend on our next trip to the grocery store? I don't want dishonest elected officials, but I am willing to understand that estimated costs for projects in the future are estimates.
"Isn't anyone else interested in being mayor?" Why should they be? In recent years it's become fashionable to criticize government, at all levels. In some cases maybe the criticism is deserved. In some cases, maybe not. What all of these elected officials have done, to their credit, is to put themselves in the firing line. How many of us are willing to do that? Anyone else have an idea for how to raise revenues? Or how to make sure that it's spent in the most efficient manner? How many of us have volunteered to be a poll worker? Every man for himself, has gotten us here.
Hello Raytowners,
I received my answer from a Jackson County mailer I received yesterday.
In person absentee voting is available at 110 N. Liberty in Independence.
BTW... the new Jackson County taxes are now available to pay. This information will likely make you more inclined to vote NO!
Have a great day. RN
Keep in mind -- most people probably already know this, but to do the "early voting" in Jackson County you will need a current identification card with a photo on it to vote before November 8th. A driver current Missouri driver's license will work.
I wonder. Am I the only one that believes the junk we see on Facebook is childish. I have seen comments from the Mayor calling people liars, stupid and worse. Does this impress anyone? I hope not. I do believe it may be why talk is surfacing of others planning on running for what the Mayor believes is only his job. Fortunately, he does no get to make that call. Only the voters in Raytown do. Let's see what November 8th tells about certain politicians in Raytown and their ability to lead.
"Only the voters in Raytown do. Let's see what November 8th tells about certain politicians in Raytown and their ability to lead."
Oh man, c'mon. That ship has already sailed.
That got sorted out eons ago. You already know the answer.
Let's all talk to our friends and neighbors. There are indeed some really great people out there. We desperately need them.
In all seriousness, it's just unfortunate that we can't clone Greg.
(The crew over at Facebook that follow his Every. Single. Word. on this blog but wildly exclaim on a regular basis that they don't, -that- one's for you. Ptui!)
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS FURIOUS AT OPEC FOR DRASTICALLY REDUCING OUR OIL SUPPLY.
Makes sense. Biden's made it very clear from the moment he was sworn in as President. Reducing the production of oil in America? Biden is right to be angry. THAT'S HIS JOB!
Quote From McDonough:
"...let me help you out.
Average for a $150,000 dollar house:
.60 x365 = $219 a year.
How's that?"
In August they asked for 57.2 million. They said for a 100,000 home it would run between $50 and $143 a year. (14 cents to 39 cents a day) That was in the flyer they put in sewer bills. If you take those numbers to go from a 100,000 home to $150,000 home then we multiply times 1.5.
$50 times 1.5 is $75. $143 times 1.5 is $214.50. (20 cents to 58 cents a day)
Now what they want is 37.2 million and it's 60 cents a day??? How is it that a lower bond is costing more???
One has to wonder, were the numbers they projected in August wrong or are the numbers they project now wrong?
Definitely a NO vote in my household.
A (Facetious) Memorandum From the City of Raytown and the "GO BOND SUPPORTERS:
"What is street construction? It means that we fix the street. Did you see our little map where we have drawn perhaps 6 isolated red oval circles? Yeah, them ovals. Look hard and look deep and there they are in the neighborhood outbacks. They will fix very limited areas and that will cost MILLIONS. No worries though, we'll stretch out the cost to you and your kids for years. What percentage of roads and sewers will actually be repaired? Don't ask us. Ask the ovals."
"Maybe we can pay on these "GO" bonds, but not before a-boundin' back to you and demanding more because we missed a "couple" streets. (And you just know we will. History repeats and whatnot.) Like, oopsie."
"Are you getting hit in all directions with property tax and insurance increases? Expect an up to 36 percent increase for your home, and a 25 percent increase in your county personal property taxes now and in the next couple-few years. (We dare not bring any of THAT up.)
"Are you elderly or disabled, on a fixed income? So WHAT. "Buck" up."
Per an actual, living Raytown citizen Buck: "Checkout the jackson county tax website they have a program for seniors and such that can't afford their property taxes."
"Seniors and Such." (Who or what is the "such"?)
"What's that? The exponential impact of the increased cost to commercial property owners if we get our way? We're conveniently not mentioning that part."
"Are y'all gonna vote NO again? FIIINE. Hold our beer. At great expense to the taxpayers, we gonna get this thing right back on the ballot and keep doing so. Until we bankrupt the city."
"And above all, don't ask us to fully explain anything. We'll hold public forums, but we expect you to sit in your seat and remain silent. We'll feed you what we think you need to know in order for our agenda to pass. We may or may not be ridiculously underqualified to "administer" much of anything in the first place, and we simply can't take the chance that you may catch on. Out pitchin' arms are warmed up and ready to throw scads of dinero (at your expense, of course) at the actual overpriced agencies that do all of our doin' for us."
"Let us explain how this will work. The mill levy will be be a rollback for this year’s assessment it's going to happen again due to increased revenue estimates due to the rate of inflation but that's okay because Hancock Amendment definitely, maybe. Prior administrations, they ignored all of this. Blame them. They never repaired a road for like 50 years and they JUST now fell apart. We're dyin' with all the roads around here. Cross over into Kansas City, Lees Summit or Independence and all their roads are paved with gold. Only OURS break axles. (Yeah, our minds are blown too.) We need to shell out another $60K to "consultants" to see how them things in neighboring cities are always so d*mn perfect.
"Here's a formula u can use to compute how much more y'all will need to shell out for like decades: (($250,0880 * 0.196)/100 squared) * $0.588 /88 = ~$187 3/4/ = xyz / *15544/48 = 6346436 to the third power to Infinity. Infrastructure. And make sure to multiply the current value of your home by the a ratio. Hancock Amendment. Bond Rates. Amen."
Vote no.
VOTE NO.
It's all so simple. As it should be and it absolutely already is.
You all know in your hearts what rings true and what absolutely does not.
"PRESIDENT BIDEN IS FURIOUS AT OPEC FOR DRASTICALLY REDUCING OUR OIL SUPPLY."
Learn the facts. Instead of producing our own oil, he is going to OPEC and Venezuela for oil. Energy independence is a national security issue. WE CAN PRODUCE OUR OWN OIL but he destroyed that possibility with his horrible policies. He is controlled by the far-left.
He asked the Saudi's to delay the decision on oil output by a month--until after the midterms! That is called collusion. The left would have screamed for impeachment if the previous president did this-- but Biden gets a pass.
https://nypost.com/2022/10/11/biden-admin-begged-saudis-to-push-oil-cut-until-after-midterms-report/
Sorry about yur dog
For the last 13 years I have had routine I would follow every morning. At about 5:00 a.m. our little puppy dog, Wickett would come into the our bedroom and walk around the bed. We have small night light there that has a motion detector. Wickett would walk by and it would turn on. It was, of course, silent. So Mecee would not be wakened. The light would wake me up and their would be Wickett. We had things to do.
First on the agenda was to take her outside and let her take care of her business. Then we would come back in. Check the computer for messages and the start our day. First order of business, breakfast for Wickett. Then I would either crawl back into bed or take a nap on the couch.
There is so much more to tell but I will not bore you with it.
But I loved our mornings. And I miss my puppy so much it hurts. Wickett was what I called a "forever puppy". She never changed until the very end when old age, tired and aching joints and finally problems that simply could not be fixed.
I miss my early morning alarm puppy so much.
Mecee and I wish to thank all of you who have expressed condolences. It is greatly appreciated and in some strange way it truly helps.
The best argument I have had for voting against the city's tax questions came from a neighbor who has continued to be unsuccessful in get answers from our Alderman and her fellow church member.
She said if there was an actual committee of citizens who made the recommendations for higher taxes why are their names not being released and why are they not out within the community supporting their recommendation.
I believe she is on to something.
Like those on the committee didn't make the recommendation or know it is not the right time to ask so much from fellow citizens making them embarrassed for serving on the committee.
That is all it took for me to remove the "yes" sign from my yard.
Question: with the original failed "GO" request, the City (we guess) circulated a map of the City with a handful of the small, isolated red ovals, as someone else has mentioned.
That map (and a wise move for the pro-bond faction, in my opinion) has apparently been deleted or hidden from view. The small areas on the map reflected what the City intended to repair with the original amount of the "GO bonds" that they were requesting, which failed at the polls. The City came right back and put their request back on the ballot, but reduced their "ask", in an obvious fervent attempt to slide through these borrowed funds this time around.
Is there an updated "map" that depicts the already extremely limited areas that they had intended to repair with the original dollar request, versus what the City would now attempt to remedy with less money?
Another map with even fewer red ovals, perhaps? Or has a less amateurish, more comprehensive plan (with visuals) been prepared where we may review what areas in this City would be addressed?
If there is a more definitive, material plan for what the City will do with this money this time around, we would appreciate a referral.
It's still a solid "no" for us. This information should already be provided when their City approaches the citizens with such a substantive $$ legacy request. That **preliminary** plan should already be out of engineering and up for our review.
Anyone with half a lick of common sense can also see through all this.
Myers is posting on social media that the "no" mailer states there is no Capital Improvement Plan-and that they "need to get brought up to speed". He either does not know the difference or is trying not to tell the truth. After 5 years on the board, I don't know which is more disturbing from an elected alderman.
A Capital improvement Program is what the City is budgeting that year.
A Capital Project report gives updates to the board on any given completed project.
A Capital Improvement Plan is a 5 year Plan on a myriad of projects, being roads, sidewalks, sanitary or storm, bridges etc., any capital item.
Look up any other city our size and their Capital Improvement Plan will show up with a 5 year timeframe. RAYTOWN HAS NO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
And, they don't have a plan for how the are going to spent 37 million dollars.
They are counting on ignorance of the public in order to sell this. How shameful.
"RAYTOWN HAS NO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN."
"And, they don't have a plan for how the are going to spent 37 million dollars."
Ryan Myers and the "mayor" are fighting quite the uphill battle this time around.
"Flailing" is the term that comes to mind.
Good roads are indeed vital. There are infrastructure issues that could be addressed.
But not like you have suggested.
Not that way, not right now.
Talking to a neighbor yesterday I found out he just received his personal property tax bill. His tax went up quite a bit. Like he told me, I thought cars lost value as the aged!
Too many secrets up at a city hall. The comment about the maps was spot on. Those guys and gals on the city council would say anything to try to get your vote. I, and probably many more people in Raytown have noticed the "we want your money crowd" are running away from the maps they created back in August. I still have one. If you look real closely at them you will find they planned to spend nearly all of he street repair money on four lane streets throughout Raytown. Very little was planned to go on out neighborhood streets.
Plain and simple, I do not trust the vote yes side. They spend most of their time trashing the other side and insulting anyone who does not agree with them.
Count us as two NO votes on Election Day.
Upset because the tax on your car went up? The tax is based on the fair market value of the car, boat, trailer, etc. The fair market value on used cars have sky-rocketed. They are costing twice, sometimes thrice what they did last year. You need to pay attention to what is going on around you!
Ow does GM, Ford, Toyota, etc., not being able to manufacture cars become our responsibility? Check the market value of those manufacturing giants. They are actually paying less to their stock holders -- not increasing their dividends! The value of a ten year old or 15 year old car with high mileage did not go up. It stayed the same at best. But Jackson County needed the money so they raised the amount you pay this year. Would you like to take a bet as to when they will lower it back down?
Don't worry, if you like paying higher taxes your time is coming. The Jackson County Assessor has about ninety people out driving around placing new values on our homes. According to the Assessors office (and this came straight from them), if you live in the 64133 Zip Code area look for your property tax to go up 40%. If you live in 64138, look for it to go up 36%.
So that you know how it works. The rich can easily afford these so-called "adjustments". Those on fixed incomes cannot. They do not have the luxury of fixing their money problems by cranking up the tax on our cars and homes with the stroke of a pen!
There is a way to slow this madness down. Vote NO on both property tax increases the city has proposed. At least on the city level they cannot raise our taxes without our permission. Tell them NO! They may get the message that a reasonable increase is acceptable. But what they are offering is far from reasonable and will run some people out of their homes.
Here is the audit. https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2020119&token=5901800321
Page 1 of findings…
“ The city can improve its monitoring of the use of restricted city sales taxes used to subsidize the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) debt associated with the Raytown Live Redevelopment Area (Raytown Live) and subsidies provided to the TIF
***are not accounted for transparently in city budgets or financial statements.
*** In addition, tracking of motor-vehicle related revenue and spending is not adequate and
documentation to support allocations of salaries and fringe benefits to the Sewer Utility Fund are not maintained.***”
Emphasis added. This is just the first page first paragraph and already transparency and lack of accounting for millions comes up, including not using funds for the required purposes!
Here is the audit. https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2020119&token=5901800321
The (former, elected) Chief of Police mysteriously "retired" midway b/t their 4-year commitment to the voters around the time of this audit, did they not?
A radical lack of transparency continues to be an issue here, IMO. And I think that we've allowed some of them to get away with it, long term. Our fault. Now some of them feel entitled and are angered, feel put upon and are reactive, when what they want is being potentially obstructed by an alternate view, or if a citizen dares asks specific questions.
My vote is a million times NO. Reread the "NO" circular, plus people have had no problem with stacking additional "NO" reasons atop the "heap".
When first you try to deceive your lies only grow deeper until you refuse to answer questions.
This is the story of one of the Alderman, who wants to tax and fee his fellow citizens and business owners to death.
How do you know he is lying the old say is his lips are moving, but in this disturbing individual he stops answering questions and often gets very angry at those trying to educate themselves on city business.
This is not the actions of a leader, but those of a spoiled child that needs taken out to the wood shed. Oh the good old days when we could teach our children respect
I have spoken to many who have first hand as I asked him questions to see this unpredictable behavior of adults with of course the exception of a dictator or some who believes they are above anyone else.
Recently he started denial a flyer posted on Facebook, but when questions of about the over turn of a finance director he refused to answer questions.
I myself am not sure of the actual number we have had in recent years, but do know the information is sunshineable understate law.
Maybe his lack of understanding the law is why the city was already fined over 40 thousand dollars.
He also has made it clear he will not share the names on his unending g tax quest committee, which too is sunshineable.
Dies this mean he want our city employees over tasked with request he could easily answer. It would also be interesting how an over abundance of requests would fail with other Alderman being one publicly completed to a local group about the number of sunshine requests the city was receiving. It is still questionable if this was a violation of the law as an elected officials should never attempt to interfere with a citizen rights to obtain information as allowed by the law.
In the end and I have heard this before the Alderman that claim they are in favor of these additional taxes are the same ones justifying we vote against them.
No truth, No answering, No respect...
.... means NO on additional burden to the taxpayers!
Liar liar pants on fire; sorry two wrongs don't make a right.
One of the latest unhinged posting on Facebook was about about signs being removed from a select piece of property. The former Alderman justified his actions of placing signs on the property will admitting without the permission of the property owner stating everyone else has placed a sign there.
Does this mean the same former olderman would be OK if someone placed a sign on his property property without permission.
While on the subject let everyone be reminded no signs are to be posted on right of ways and there have been Alderman who have actually worked to keep the city clean of this nuisance in the past by removing the signs.
Mayor Mike having not only a candidate for county executive and his tax us to death bonds the practice of signs on the right of way is no longer enforced.
Will this be the case for his opponent this April?
It seems lack of professionalism and equal enforcement of laws needs added to the list of why businesses don't want to open in Raytown.
Time to vote "NO" on city questions Tuesday November 8th.
Time to get ready to vote "OUT" any of our city elected officials that are holding Raytown hostage with not honoring the vote of the people and allow special things for their friends, family and supporters.
Just got done reading a large part of the Raytown Live article and had to stop reading because it has so much BS in the article. You could sack the BS and sell it a make a profit!
VOTE NO!! November 8th
Once again our Ward 3 Alderman shows how much disrespect he has for the citizens of Raytown.
One minute complaining city needs more money and next increasing salaries of our elected officials.
Raytown needs to find individuals to respect the hard working people of Raytown and be done with the self-serving that we have too many of today.
I enjoy reading the Raytown Report. I have a request...could you please correct the date at the top of the page (is has been stuck on Oct. 11)
Asking me for more tax money and giving themselves a raise. There are no words to describe this one but let me try. Assinine Stupid Unbelievable Idiotic Negligent What a bunch of Morons, I was a vote no, now I'm a HELL NO.
I'm not sure but from watching the city council meetings I think about half of the time, the rules are suspended and a second reading is done. We have no warning, nothing for us to say as comments are early in the meeting. Vote is called, and all is done. Are they afraid to face the public?
"When a young man was speaking to the BOA his week, I couldn't help but notice that the usual suspect was holding their cell phone with both hands, frequently looking down."
You're referring to the alleged campaign fund misappropriater? Are they still making restitution payments to the State?
Just my opinion, but this individual should be barred from participating in any and all BOA financial decisions. We're extremely uncomfortable that they have been allowed to continue to do so.
Have you been to a meeting?! I would have to play crush or something… they are horribly boring. Just get through to the rubber stamps already, but everyone has to tell stories about a vote from 20 years ago when they were still on the bored. The same people wanting this increase can’t blame past bored decisions e a use they are the same ones that put us in this spot.
Reading all the trash boards on Facebook, you can tell that the two most vocal "GO" proponents are starting to panic.
Let me correct myself, actually. The admin from one of the Raytown Facebook groups has stood up and took a couple of the elected GO-GO's to task.
This Facebook group owner doesn't need to agree with those of that oppose these GO-bonds, but he stood up and took a stand against the *behavior* of an elected official that many of us have been concerned about for quite some time.
"...anyone has a right to change their point of view..."
"...it never seems to occur to anyone that solutions can be worked on, maybe not a 100% foolproof solution all at once, but a stepping stone solution..."
"When City leadership listens ONLY to their supporters..."
To McDonough: "...find it shameful seeing the non-attentive attitude shown toward any speaker who are not from their ward or not a supporter of you...'
To McDonough: "Okay, when was the last time that you visited a business that didn't support you?"
To McDonough: "It was your attitude that changed my mind..."
This group owner is obviously one sincere individual that consistently makes well-thought-out remarks, more than likely based on a great deal of life experience.
I stress that he doesn't need to even remotely agree with those of us that are completely against these GO Bonds, however this gentleman is once class act in the way that he conducts himself and his group. He truly is a breath of fresh air.
I, for one, am very appreciative. He's put a couple of these elected folks on notice about their behavior. And it's about time.
Facebook, yesterday "...nothing more than a blight-causing parasite to our community at this point."
This, from a sitting alderman regarding another.
Woah, young man. Libel. L-I-B-E-L.
Are we to trust your judgment when you post items such as this online?
Sit down and check yourself, young man.
To the reader concerned about the October post date at the top of our page.
We have left the October date in our headline so as to keep all of the comments during the election cycle current. This was to accommodate the large amount of interest in the community with this second round of property tax increases from City Hall. Once all of the votes are counted on November 8th we will change back to our weekly format.
"Have you been to a meeting?! I would have to play crush or something… they are horribly boring."
Nope. During the relatively short period of time that they're sitting behind that dais, heads up and pay attention. (How many times did we hear this in grade school?)
All citizens and fellow board members are entitled to be heard and acknowledged, out of common courtesy and respect. Basic.
Watch a few Raytown BOA meetings. Quite easy to sort out the offenders. They need to be "sorted out" at election time.
I remember the committee he made, where he required members to be under 30, much to the displeasure of board members. Those people either weren’t residents at the time or have since moved, which is why they are unnamed
There are a couple of things that bother me about these tax proposals. I saw on one of the vote yes pieces that the proposal is supported by the Raytown Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Raytown Association. Or something like that.
I wondered what local political organizations are doing about the tax proposal. So I checked with the RDA (Raytown Democrat Association). They told me they were approached and asked to support the tax increases but the membership said "no way". I also heard Freedom Inc. was approached for support in passing the tax. They said they were staying out of the election because the voters had just voted last August and had turned own the election. They also expressed concern for the elderly in Raytown who may not be able to pay higher taxes on their property.
Now I learn the City Council vote itself and the Mayor a pay increase in one night. Didn't even let the public have their say!
Enough is enough. Count me a NO VOTE on Tuesday.
Those people at City Hall only care about themselves. I hear only one member of the City Council vote No on the pay increase.
Might as well throw in my two cents worth. I am tired of this endless cycle of elections. We voted no. What part of "no" does city hall have trouble understanding. I am also very concerned of the noise coming out of the facebook pages. A lot of what is being said borders on slander. Some is outright bullying. I do not like people who conduct themselves like that.
The City council's decision to give themselves and the mayor a pay increase right before the election is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard of just one week before asking the voters to pay more and more taxes!
I will be voting as I did back in August. I voted no then. I will vote the same way this time.
Nice thing about elections is that you can touch base with a lot of people and learn all kinds of interesting stuff about what is going on in Raytown. For instance, here is what I have heard (and can be verified easily) about the Raytown School Board and their plans for the future.
Look for the School District to have another property tax on the ballot next April. Also learned that the school district is currently deciding which schools to close because of declining enrollment. Seems to me that they would not need more tax dollars is they are closing buildings. Here's a thought. Why not sell some of the school buildings they are closing up. They should bring a pretty penny.
Someone asked how much it costs to hold an election in Raytown. It depends somewhat on how many issues are on the ballot. I do know that Raytown's cost for holding a election costs a little more over $30,000 (according to the Jackson County Election Board). That means in the last year they have spent roughly $90,000 on just holding elections. That figure does not include the $20,000+ spent on "educating the voters lasts August". The city paid that as well. Nor does it include the semi-annual slick magazine they mailed all of Raytown that wa dedicated from cover to cover to explaining city hall's version of what the GO Bonds will cost.
So the math takes us somewhere around $130,000 spent by the city on elections this year.
All for what? An extremely divided city fueled by supporters of the bond packages to the point of people tuning out face book entirely. Extreme actions that can only be described as bullying by supporters of the tax. Most of it led by the Mayor and his former Mayor Protem.
When the bonds are defeated again Tuesday night is the Mayor and his followers planning to vote Tuesday the 15th to put them back on the April ballot?
I have heard many of the supporters say to put them on every election until they pass.
Mr Walters,
Sorry to hear about the recent loss of you pet.
I am writing to understand if there is additional hypocritical conversations coming from that Susan "Rock Lady".
I understand she sold the house in Raytown that she was not living in, but has been very active in comments about these bonds request.
If she doesn't live in Raytown; why is she opening her mouth.
She has been quick on the Book of Faces as the next Congressman in the 4th District used to call in, and continues to combine about a Raytown business owner because they actual live in a different city.
Maybe I am slow, but if I owed a businesses that would be impacted by a tax increase from bonds or another means have a right to speak up about and work for my position on the questions as they could have a major impact on my business. They only thing I cannot do is vote in the election as I don't live in the city.
Maybe this goes back to the misunderstanding of the 1st amendment to the US Constitution and how some in Raytown don't believe in the freedom of speech if it doesn't support their position.
If the "Rock Lady" doesn't live in Raytown why is she still messing in local business!
I do not know who made those clever little signs popping up on busy crossroads in Raytown. They remind everyone that just 7 days ago the mayor and a most of the Board of Aldermen (all but two!?!) voted through a pay increase for themselves. These folks are so gutsy. First they ask us to vote to increase OUR taxes to new heights -- then, before that vote is even taken, they give each other a nice bump in the paycheck department.
I watched the link on the entry page of the Raytown Report. One Alderman even send "of course" yes! when her name was called to vote.
These people are uncaring as they come. I hope all of them running for re-election get thrown out of office next spring.
Their arrogance knows no bounds.
What will be great is Wednesday morning after these taxes fail again McDonough, Mims and Myers resign effort immediately.
That will truly be a move to move Raytown forward and we can be the "one Raytown" they talk about.
"What will be great is Wednesday morning after these taxes fail again McDonough, Mims and Myers resign effort immediately."
Wishful thinking. Until viable candidates care enough to step up to challenge them, we're stuck with them. Forever. They're not going anywhere.
Lets see what they do, they tell you what you want to hear and don't ever follow up with their promises.
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