Breaking News
ELECTION BOARD OFFICIALS CONDUCT RECOUNT
OF RAYTOWN NOVEMBER 8TH ELECTION
Late Friday the Jackson County Election Board conducted recounts of the results from Question 1 and Question 2 General Election held on November 8th.
“Results of the two elections were so close” . . . , an election authority
said, . . "that the margin of victory/loss fell within one half of one percent between
the NO and YES votes in both elections”
Under Missouri State Statutes, such tight margins between yes and
no votes require an automatic re-count of the election.
When the recounts were completed it was found that Question 1
received a total of four additional “yes” votes that had not been previously counted.
Question 2 received a total of three “no” votes that had not been
previously counted.
A spokesperson for “Still Not the Time for this Tax” was pleased
with the outcome of Question One which would have created $30 million dollars
in bond indebtednesses for homeowners and business owners in Raytown.
“Our message was clear. Times of high inflation is NOT a good time
to raise property taxes on homeowners and businesses.”
Question 2, which can only be used for storm sewer repair in
Raytown, passed by the smallest of margins . . . the original vote count came
to only a seven vote difference between yes and no votes.
Mayor Michael McDonough and Ward 5 Alderman Bonnaye Mims were on
hand during the recount as representatives for the “yes” votes on both
questions.
“Not the Time for this Tax” had three representatives in attendance
at the recount. They were Jeanette Gentry, who lives in Ward 3. Also in
attendance were the owners of Doughboy’s Donuts, Elisa and Marjaine Breitenbach.
Elisa also serves as the Treasurer for “Not the Time for this Tax”.
At the end of the recount, both parties were informed that not enough
“new” votes had been discovered by the Election Board Officials to change the
outcome of Question One or Question Two.
However, “Recognition” of the returns as “official” will be determined November 22nd when the Board of Election Commissioners will meet to review of all the elections held in Eastern Jackson County on November 8th.
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Voters
did approve a more reasonable tax package. Question No. 2, is dedicated to repair of storm water issues
in Raytown. The price tag on Question 2 is set at $7,200,000 million dollars.
For
those looking at the bottom line of annual tax payments, it was definitely the
lesser of two evils.
If this were baseball . . .
AN ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEMBER 8TH
ELECTION RESULTS
The second election on whether or not to raise Raytown’s property taxes to historic levels is in the past.
If this were baseball, the standings would look like
this:
NOT
THE TIME FOR THIS TAX: 4 wins 1 loss
RAYTOWN
CITY HALL 1
win 4 losses
Just as in baseball, what should be a light-hearted give
and take, known as banter, often develops in political campaigns.
Some supporters of the two property tax increases joined
in the discussion.
Unfortunately, their “banter” was anything but light
hearted. It would be fair to say what was shared was unkind, at times even
hateful. It most certainly was not cute, funny or enlightening.
Those individuals seem to glory in insulting and
demeaning anyone who does not agree with their point of view.
To their credit, the members of Not the Time for this Tax
did not reduce themselves by responding in kind.
What’s Next?
The
Raytown Report has learned City Hall has begun exploring the possibility of a
re-count of the close election results on Question 1.
No doubt City Hall is interested in challenging the
results of the (failed) $30 million dollar Question One property tax increase.
Question One lost by over 70 votes. It is doubtful a re-count will reverse the
final decision of the voters on Question One.
Question
Two is another issue. The tax passed by a margin of only seven votes.
That translates to “swing” of only four votes to change the outcome of the
election.
As someone who has participated in re-counts, I can share
with you the Jackson County Election Board has a reputation of being extremely
thorough in their original counts.
Years ago I lost an election by three votes. I challenged
and received a re-count of the vote totals. The vote total changed one vote.
Other than being interesting, it proved little. All it meant was that I lost by
two votes instead of three votes.
Still, four votes out of a total of 8668 votes cast is
within the realm of possibility for the vote totals of Question 2 to be
reversed.
There is also a question as whether such a re-count is
allowed by law in Missouri. All of the re-counts I am aware of have been
between opposing candidates for political office.
This is probably one issue that will have to be decided
by the Jackson County Election Board before anyone in Raytown asks for a
re-count.
Looking Forward . . .
There is an election date of February 7, 2023 in which
City Hall could set another election. However, an election held on that date
would require a 2/3rds majority for passage AND it must be the only item on the
ballot.
It is very unlikely City Hall will take on those odds.
The
Raytown School District has already announced it plans to hold
a property tax “renewal” at the next City Election scheduled for April 4, 2023.
If the proposed “renewal” fails, voters will see their property tax lowered. If
it passes, the property tax will continue on at its current rate.
City Hall could place a third ballot question on the
ballot at the next City Election scheduled for April 4, 2023. It would require a 4/7ths majority to pass. It is also when the Mayor
and one-half of the Board of Aldermen will be up for re-election. It is
doubtful the politicians up for re-election want to make over one-half of the
electorate angry at them (those who vote NO).
A 3%
Sales Tax on Recreational Marijuana will probably be on the
April 4th Agenda as well City
Hall attempted to put the issue on the November 8th ballot but was
informed by election officials they had to wait until the voters had their say on
the issue.
The tax revenue generated on the sale of marijuana could be dedicated to the repair of streets in Raytown. It is a thought worthy of discussion.
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8 comments:
Anonymous said...
So I talked to the mayor and he said they are not going to start any sewer projects until the street bond pass next time. The reason is simple, they can’t afford to repair the streets that are damaged by repair the sewer lines without the help of the bonds.
I think though they won’t get the bonds because taxes will shoot up and they won’t get another increase. It will be interesting to see if they do use the bonds if they move the regular money from the sewer and storm water portion of the budget to somewhere else.
If they try to move the money from Storm Sewers to other areas they will be breaking the bond agreements BIG TIME. People have gone to jail for breaking promises made to voters and just as important, investors.
You mean the mayor purposely did not tell the voters that he would not use the storm sewer tax dollars UNLESS the street bonds per passed as well?
That is pure hogwash. I watched the meeting where the City Administrator was asked if storm sewer projects would be on streets or in areas away from streets. his reply was that very few of the storm sewer projects were on streets.
Hodges and McDonough should coordinate the stories they are telling the public more carefully.
No wonder they did not want to publish an clear maps on what was to be done.
The voters in Raytown would be fools to give them one more penny of their hard earned money. Those two are not being honest with the public. Shame on them.
The one known thing is the Mayor and his two side kicks (Alderman from 3 and 5) love to spend money.
The way they waste it just think of what else could have been done.
I sure would like to see their personal finances as they have to be a mess and if not they are good at living off others based on giving themselves a raise.
We know at least one is not good at managing money by looking at the information on a state website.
Please understand I'm not against anyone. I am tired of the ongoing waste of money at city hall and management by fools.
Sorry our department heads are NOT professionals.
"The one known thing is the Mayor and his two side kicks (Alderman from 3 and 5) love to spend money.... living off others based on giving themselves a raise.....We know at least one is not good at managing money by looking at the information on a state website.".
Again and again and again and again, WHAT will it take to bar one of these Aldermen from making any further financial decisions with our money?
To NOT do so is incredibly foolish and irresponsible.
HINT: our favorite number very definitely isn't FIVE.
It's doubtful that a couple of these individuals could even so much as pass a basic skills test.
So they will pay even more money to try and force something through but when winning by less than a handful they will let it slide? Sounds about right.
You didn't read the article. "that the margin of victory/loss fell within one half of one percent between the NO and YES votes in both elections”
Under Missouri State Statutes, such tight margins between yes and no votes require an automatic re-count of the election." The city did not ask for a recount.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We had confirmation from the Jackson County Election Board that the City of Raytown through City Clerk Teresa Henry did, in fact, contact Election Board personnel asking for how the city could have a recount of Question 1 conducted.
A spokesman for "Still not the Time for this Tax" requested in writing to the Jackson County Election Board that a recount of Question 2 be conducted.
The Office of Attorney General John Ashcroft ruled that a recount was constitutionally required under the laws of the State of Missouri because the difference was so close (within one half of one percent) that a recount was required.
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