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| BY GREG WALTERS |
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
TO COMMENT ON THE RAYTOWN REPORT SCROLL DOWN TO THE COUNTER SHOWN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMMENTS SHOWN.
Letters to the Editor
4 comments:
Raytown was better before Ryan Myers and will not return to that same state until the voters move him on. Remember when we work together we can move Raytown Forward. Remind your friends in Ward 3 to vote April 8th as the city you save will be the one Ryan is trying to destroy.
I would like to see what positive things Ryan has actually done. He is alot of hot air, but nothing has made Raytown a better place. He loves to talk like he know what is going on. Look at how he said we wouldn't be negatively impacted why appraisals hit. This was after the news made it clear higher appraisals. It gets very sinister when we look at the fact Myers is a professional appraisal error. Not taking questions and not listening to those who elected him shows the failure with his upbringing and has one wondering if it was his parents on the education he received from the Raytown School District. In either case he is a black eye to both of them and our city.
Facebook always has something interesting posted. The most recent comes from the city of Raytown and has been shared by several city elected officials. The post is reminding candidates and others not to places signs in the right-of-way as "It is the law".
Please don't get me wrong we should all obey the law as that is the basic starting point for a civilized society. The problem with this post from the city is this is not the first election cycle they have posted it. Hearing they have posted before would have you believe that the city followed through with enforcement. WRONG! Last year for month signs not only in the right-of-way, but the sidewalk at Wendy's. Our city officials did nothing day after day. This is the going trend of the current administration. Do nothing other than be a Facebook warrior. The only other thing the current administration has done is raised fees without citizens input and attempt to increase taxes on everything. When it comes to the department that enforces sign nothing has been said like the now norm excuses from the police department.
A little ttle history on these signs and enforcement. When we had enforce under public works. The head of public works would pull the signs. WHAT A DEPARTMENT HEADING ACTUALLY WORKING. Yes, once upon a time we had department heads that took pride in the city. This too has been lost under the current administration.
This is NOT just about signs, but the deeper failure of the current administration. To make sure laws are enforcement instead of excuses being made. It is the reason that it gets harder and harder to pass any tax question as why would we pay more for the excuses plague at city hall.
Speaking of enforcement when are we going to get professionals within the police department that enforce speeding and expired tags. DON'T START WITH THE EXCUSES FROM THE PAST AS THE HEAD OF THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID WE ARE NOW FULLY STAFFED. Maybe if the head of the administration would stop allow the department heads to turn Raytown into the most NEGATIVE thought of and looking place in the metro, we would all be SAFER and HAPPIER. No one should be paid let still be employed for doing nothing. Driving anywhere in our city limits today and you can see when the administrations focus is on DOING NOTHING other than being a Facebook WAWIOR Raytown will continue to ware the badge of "NEGATIVE".
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