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.”
25 comments:
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.
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
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."
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.
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.
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)
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?
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
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.
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