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If you tell the truth.
You don't have to remember anything!
MARK TWAIN

Truth Watch is back!

This week she is offering a clear and easy‑to‑understand look at the

two sales tax questions Raytown Voters will decide on April 7th.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2026

Capital Improvement Sales Tax – 3/8¢

Raytown Voters are being asked whether to continue the existing 3/8‑cent sales tax for another ten years. This tax supports capital improvements and may also be used to retire previously approved bond debt.

Transportation Sales Tax – 1/2¢

This question asks voters to continue the existing 1/2‑cent sales tax for transportation needs, also for a ten‑year period.

What Voters Should Also Know:

• Both of these sales, when first brought before the voters years ago, were set for a five year term. This renewal is for a ten year term for both taxes.

• The Jackson County Election Board is paid to conduct the elections for the City of Raytown. The set up costs . . . legal advertising, the hiring and use of election judges are static costs passed on to the City by the Election Board.

• If the city had placed these questions on the August ballot, the cost to Raytown taxpayers would have been noticeably lower. The reason? The August ballot will also have State, Federal and other area wide initiatives on the ballot. This spreads the cost of holding the election to many public entities. Thereby lowering the cost of the election burden on Raytown considerably.

• Had City Hall waited until August to hold the election, which will be the most crowded ballot to come before voters this year. Since Raytown would only have two items on the August ballot, the cost to taxpayers would be minimal, with the State and Federal elections picking up the bulk of the tab. 

The Two Taxes . . .

• 3/8‑Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax — A ten‑year extension that can also be used to pay off old bond debt.
• 1/2‑Cent Transportation Sales Tax — Another ten‑year extension of an existing tax.

The Talking Point You’ll Hear . . .

Proponents repeat the same line: “This is not a tax increase.” Technically true. But it’s only half the story.

What They Do Not Tell You . . . 

• When originally brought before the voters the sales were both for a five year terms. Both taxes have since been increased to ten year terms. The change from the original tax brought before the voters is significant. By continuing with the ten year term This lessens the length of oversite by voters for the life of the two taxes.

• The city chose to hold a stand‑alone April election with only two items on the ballot an unnecessarily expensive choice. The Jackson County Election Board has basic set up costs for every election they oversee. The only way those election costs can be decreased is by holding the election at times when other entities, such as Jackson County, the State of Missouri, Raytown School Board Elections, the Raytown Water Supply District, and the Raytown Fire Protection District would share in the cost of the election. This cost sharing would have saved the City of Raytown considerable expense in the cost of holding the election.

A Closer Look at the 3/8‑Cent Sales Tax:

The 3/8‑cent sales tax includes language allowing the money to be used to retire previously authorized bond debt. So while the tax is being sold as “capital improvements,” it may end up paying for financial debts from previously issued bonds that cost the city more money than the new issues offered in the tax package. 

In the long run, this should save taxpayers in Raytown money. In fairness to the issue, it would be interesting to know exactly which bonds were being paid off. It is a talking point voters would appreciate . . . showing how much "more" money is being generated by purchasing the old bonds. In fact, it would help "sell" the issue to the voters. 

This is the part voters deserve to understand before they vote.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this week's Raytown Report.
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(aka . . . the "Back Pages") of the Raytown Report
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Raytown

Police Report

March 5, 2026

1:44pm

Drug Offense - 10000 block of 350 Hwy

Officers have been watching a residence known for drug activity and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving the house. The driver had multiple warrants and expired driver's license, so she was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle incident to arrest, officers located fentanyl and prescription pills. The passenger was also arrested on warrants. The investigation is ongoing.

March 5, 2026
2:00pm
Robbery - 6200 block of Blue Ridge Blvd

The victim caught the suspects trying to steal tools out of the back of a car in the parking garage and confronted them. He physically struggled with one suspect and had him in a headlock when the second suspect pointed a handgun at him. They fled the scene with the tools. No one was injured and the investigation is ongoing.

March 8, 2026
1:54pm
Aggravated Assault - Walmart, 10300 E 350 Hwy

A woman approached the officer working off duty at the store to ask for help. She reported that her boyfriend had threatened her with a gun in the parking lot during an argument. The off duty officer called for assistance from on duty personnel, and together they took the boyfriend into custody safely and recovered a firearm. It had been illegally modified to fire fully automatic and was loaded with a 30-round extended magazine. The boyfriend was arrested for aggravated assault and the gun was recovered, pending future charges related to the illegal modification. The investigation is ongoing.

 

To view the video of the Raytown Aldermen Meeting 
covered in this week's story
Board Meeting marked by Tension and Unusual Behavior
click on the following link to view the video of the meeting.

https://raytownmo.new.swagit.com/videos/377040

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Board Meeting marked by

Tension and Unusual Behavior

The latest Raytown Board of Aldermen meeting had more drama than usual.

During Public Comments, Mr. Morris Melloy, who ran for the Ward 3 seat last year,  paused mid‑speech to check on Alderwoman Bonnaye Mims. She was turned completely away from him, facing the opposite direction. It wasn’t the first time this has happened. At the previous meeting, she also turned her back while he spoke. 

People in the audience noticed. One alderman later called the behavior “bad manners.” Most folks would probably agree that when a private citizen takes the time to speak, the least elected officials should do is hear what they have to say.

After Melloy finished, Alderwoman Mims claimed he had called her a “______ ______,” language that is not allowed for print in the Raytown Report.

Mims also said she had an audio recording to prove it.

Melloy denied the accusation. He has since filed a Sunshine Request with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to obtain a copy of the recording, which he is entitled to do since the comments were made by Alderwoman Mims during a public meeting.

The rest of the meeting was short — under an hour — but still managed to produce another awkward moment.

As the meeting ended, Alderman Greg Walters quietly said to his seatmate on the Board, Ward 1 Alderwoman Theresa Tush, “such as it is.” The Mayor immediately challenged him, asking if he had something to say to the Board. Walters replied that he did not have anything of significance and began gathering his papers in preperation of leaving. 

The Board is clearly under pressure, especially with potential legislation on the horizon that could remove one of its members.

But even so, it’s hard to understand why Alderwoman Mims repeatedly refuses to face Melloy when he is speaking.

Or, why the Mayor reacted so sharply to a simple four‑word comment spoken to his seatmate setting next to him after the meeting was over. 

Raytown residents deserve calm, respectful leadership. With ten people on the Board, there’s no reason for tension to spill into public meetings.

On a personal note, Greg tells us he has known Morris Melloy for three years. He describes Mr. Melloy's manner as polite, soft-spoken and what he called an "old school gentleman". Walters went on to say he has never heard Melloy use profanity in the three years he’s known him. The idea that Melloy would use a slur toward anyone simply does not match the character of the man I have known for three years.

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