One of Raytown's own has been recognized by the Jackson County Democratic Party as the Harry S Truman Man of the Year. This year's award recognizes Raytown's representative on the Missouri State Legislature, Jerome Barnes.

Jerome has made a name for himself as the State Legislature representing the Raytown area these lasts eight years. Missouri has term limits, so Jerome is stepping down from his seat in the Legislature at the end of this year. 

When asked about his plans for the future. Barnes said his focus is to work for his wife, Donna Barnes, in her campaign to take his place on the Missouri State Legislature for the 28th District. 

Mrs. Barnes first election contest will be held on the Tuesday, August 4, 2024 in the Democratic Primary Election. 

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Talking Points . . .

 BY GREG WALTERS 

FROM THE MISSOURI

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE 

The Missouri Department of Revenue is owed more than $78 million in delinquent temporary automobile license tag fees. The Department reports nearly 60,000 temporary permits are overdue. 

FROM AREA NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS . . .
Northland Police Departments recently teamed up with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department to crack down on people driving with expired license plates and tags. The Kansas City Police Department reported the group effort confiscated 63 temporary tags and 23 license plates while handing out 271 citations in an eight hour span.

The following law enforcement agencies were active in the crackdown.

·                  Kansas City, Missouri Police Department

·                  Independence, Missouri Police Department

·                  Platte Woods Police

·                  Clay County Sheriff’s Office

·                  Platte County Sheriff’s Office

·                  Missouri Highway Patrol

·                  Missouri Depart. of Revenue (Compliance and Investigation Bureau)

Why Not Raytown?
This lack of enforcement has repercussions that are not good for Raytown. If a car is not properly licensed it is doubtful it has had a safety inspection. It also creates a difficult situation for Police to investigate crimes. This is especially true if an improperly licensed vehicle is used to commit a crime. 

And yes, those temporary tags can easily be counterfeited and frequently are.

Another impact is the loss of tax revenue. When a car is not licensed properly it is very doubtful the Personal Property Tax on the vehicle has been paid.

The Missouri Department of Revenue reports a loss of $78 Million Dollars in tax revenue because of the lack of enforcement. 

Raytowners have already been buried in historically high property tax increases this year. Ignoring those who refuse to license their vehicles properly in a timely manner is not a solution.

Proper enforcement of our City and State laws is the solution.

Raytown should join surrounding cities like Kansas City and Independence in stepping up enforcement on expired temporary license tags.

The Good News is City Department Heads, most notably the Police, Court and City Administrator are looking into solutions to address the problem. They are well aware of the need to step up traffic enforcement -- and are expected to have a proposal for the Board of Aldermen in the near future.

We will continue coverage on this story as it moves forward.