Raytown Board of Aldermen Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a forum of candidates for four seats on the Raytown Board of Aldermen.

The Forum will be held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Via ZOOM

For learn more about this event, how to register, and post questions via ZOOM please use the following link

https://lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=477430&item_id=2542851

Our Comments Page has been moved to the end of our weekly story. The change was made to allow more space for Comments from readers.

BY GREG WALTERS

Last week I attended a meeting of the Raytown Democrat Association (RDA). A couple of candidates running for School District were on hand. Both of them gave very good presentations of their campaign and plans if elected.

One candidates in particular was very thorough in his presentation. So much so that he followed up with his thoughts on what he considered to be of prime importance. His argument are so spot-on to what is wrong with nutrition in America (as regards school lunches) that we felt it worth sharing.

Even more impressive are his thoughts on how to improve grade scores within the Raytown School District.

The following article (which we are running as a guest editorial) contains innovative ideas on the education of children in our community are worth noting.

So, please, take a few minutes and see what he has to offer. We think you will be impressed.

Pop Tarts do not Grow on Trees
BY SAM MADSON, CANDIDATE FOR THE RAYTOWN SCHOOL BOARD

I really think we need to do right by our students to give them the best opportunity to build healthy bodies and minds.  Our food options are moving in the right direction, but we're still missing protein-rich breakfast options, healthy fats (the kind we've been eating for 1000's of years), and minimally processed, convenient snacks.  Like I said in person, we don't want our children thinking pop-tarts come from a pop-tart tree

The other question I'm getting a lot of, is what about my education platform once the school board?

I think the largest issue we need to tackle as educators is "Bloom's 2-sigma problem", which essentially, is the disparity between 1-on-1 tutoring and a teacher lecturing to a classroom.  Tutored students have a 2-sigma better outcome than the typical classroom educated student.  Said another way, the tutored student would test at the 97th% percentile in the classroom body.

Now, providing one-on-one tutoring for every student is a pretty large challenge, fiscally and logistically.  Bloom, and other researchers, have studied different methodologies to reduce this disparity.  One option is Direct Instruction.  My sense is that this option is widely disfavored by teachers, because it really reduces the amount of autonomy they get in the classroom.  The research shows that when followed, it's very effective at reducing the disparity.  There are other methodologies, some student-led, like the Acton Academy model, that are in favor with very progressive educators and ultimately might be a better fit for our community.

I'm not married to an educational model, I just want better outcomes for our students.  My take is that we know that there are lots of different things we can do to make a difference for our student outcomes, but ultimately whatever we decide on has to have buy-in from the teachers, otherwise we are wasting our time, effort, and energy.  I'd like to present as many viable options to our best teachers and staff and allow them to decide how they'd like to educate, and then support them in following through with those decisions.

BY GREG WALTERS

Is Raytown a
High Tax City?

PROPERTY TAX: The effective property tax rate in Raytown is 1.27%, which is above both the state median of 0.91% and, above the national median of 1.02%. This means Raytown residents face higher property taxes compared to other cities in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

SALES TAX: It would be more accurate to ask, is the Kansas City area a “high tax” metropolitan area? All of the cities have sales tax rates very similar to Raytown. If you are shopping at a retail outlet in Raytown you are currently paying 8.49% in sales tax.

However, If you are shopping at a store associated with a TIF or CID Sales Tax Benefit District the rate you are currently paying is 9.37%.

This means Raytowners are on the upper end of sales tax rates in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The City of Raytown is planning to conduct a sales tax increase on the August, 2025 ballot.

The Parks/Storm Water Sales taxes is set to expire on April of 2026. City Hall plans to ask for an increase of the sales tax. The two taxes combined at this time equals 1/4 percent. One proposal under consideration would DOUBLE the sales tax from 1/4 Cent Sales tax to 1/2" Cent Sales Tax.

For reasons that are not clear, proponents of the tax increases often present the tax as a two separate taxes. The simple fact is you will only vote on one tax question.

We believe there is a better way!

In November of 2022 the Voters in Raytown approved a $7,200,000 (7.2) million dollar bond issue to be used exclusively on storm sewer construction and repair.

Taxpayers in Raytown are already paying enough in sales taxes. By using the bond funds set aside for Storm Sewer Repair and Construction, it would free ALL of the new tax dollars to go exclusively by the Park Department.

And it would do it ALL without raising the sales tax . . . period!

This plan would solve the Park Department’s need for more money, while putting the use of Municipal Bonds to work on our storm sewers.

Welcome to our "Comments Page"

TO COMMENT ON THE RAYTOWN REPORT SCROLL DOWN TO THE  COUNTER SHOWN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMMENTS SHOWN.

Letters to the Editor

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Driving by the Raytown Plaza last Sunday I noticed a tent in front of one of Raytown's infamous Downtown Raytown watering holes. Is the city allowing bar owners to turn their parking lot(s) into an extension of their bars?

Not a good idea. How do you keep people from just showing up with their own booze to party? Not to mention the problem of underage drinkers joining in the fun.?

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

I am very disappointed in Alderman Myers and anyone who still supports him. Be honest what has he done to improve the life's of the citizens. Raising fees without any justified reason other than I am looking for new revenue sources is ethically and morally wrong. Did you know the city requires a permit for

several things. The fees for these permits has gone up, but the city nevercomes out and inspects anything. You decide for yourself if that is right or is it taking advantage of our fellow citizens.

The honest and hardworking citizens are tied of the fact the only thing our police chief and supporters on the board do is make excuses. Instead of making excuses why not enforce vehicle license requirements. This would increase the revenue sources that Myers talks about. The problem is Myers and the rest of the Mayor's dream team. They are all in a different reality. A reality were they do everything right, there are no crimes, and people maintain their properties. I don't think if Myers and the dream team would take off their sunglasses they would be able to see the mess because it would validate that Ryan "Myers" rhymes with Lying "Myers".

As Raytown has recently faced several wind storms that have changed the landscape with trees being removed the winds of change need to blow on April 8th with Myers and the dream team finding themselves with more time to spend in dream land and the end of their time to further take advantage of the citizens of Raytown.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

I guess the City doesn't realize that we have had enough taxes. I am voting NO on any new taxes in Raytown. Every election it seems they have another tax issue on the ballot. They need to live within their means just like the residents do.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Read something on Facebook tonight and based on what I read we need to spend more money on public education.

The responses from several have me hoping the state will once again outlaw marjiuana. Like I said people get educated and stop using drugs or stay off Facebook. You make yourself and our community look stupid.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Ryan does very little for the people of Ward 3. He hangs them with high taxes on EVERYTHING! Remember when he pushed through the sales tax on internet sales. It went from 0% to 2% because of him. His most recent stunt was to increase our sanitary sewer bills. The city staff had recommended a 5% increase. Ryan got his cronies on the city council to raise it to 7%.

The worst that Ryan did was when he sold out the people living around 53rd and Blue Ridge. He gave very questionable testimony in favor of the development that was not wanted by the neighbors of the old Blue Ridge Nursery.The developer has not fulfilled any of the requirements of his application. The project appears to be dead.

If you live near the old nursery DO NOT GIVEN RYAN A CHANCE TO BRING IT BACK. His track record is clear. He will sell out the neighborhoods again.

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