Happy Easter!
In preparation of the small visitors, (aka, our grandchildren) I was enlisted to help prepare our home for a visit from our extended family
Mecee started her day by doing what she does best . . . shopping. One of her stops was at HyVee where she was greeted by the largest Easter bunny I have ever seen.
Meanwhile our ever faithful puppy dog, Crickette, was at her usual perch doing what she does best, keeping an eye on the world outside our living room window.
Guess what our ever-faithful puppy found. If you guessed another Easter Bunny in our front yard . . . you are correct!
So what did I do? . . . Hey, somebody had to take the pictures!Happy Easter
from Mecee, Greg and Crickette
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Raytown Voters to Decide Two
Sales Tax Questions on Tuesday, April 7thThe City of Raytown has used a direct mail campaign and web advertising to "educate" the Raytown Public about two sales tax ballot questions to be decided on April 7th.
In our view any effort to inform voters of the facts is good politics. So, with the help of “artificial intelligence” we are adding to the wealth of information available to the voting public.
The two questions we will be voting on April 7 are two sales tax renewals. One is for Public Safety, the other for Capital Improvements.
How much will the two sales taxes cost taxpayers?
The two taxes will be funded by sales tax on retail sales. The following list shows the combined tax rate in Raytown for most retail transactions.
- Missouri State Sales Tax
- Jackson County Sales Tax
- Raytown Sales Tax
- Raytown Fire District Sales Tax
- Special Swope Park Zoo Sales Tax
- Your total Sales Tax Rate equals.................8.862%*
If you shop at a retail business located in a Special Tax District, such as:
• a Community Improvement District (CID)
• a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF)
- Your total Sales Tax increases to..................9.475%*
These "Special Tax Districts" are financed in part by consumers through an additonal sales tax at stores like Walmart, Sutherland Lumber and others located in so-called "Tax Improvement Districts."
How will the money collected by the two sales taxes be spent?
If
voters approve these two taxes the life span of the taxes will be ten
years each. One tax question asks for renewal of a half-cent
tax for transportation.The other tax question asks for a three/eighths-cent tax for
capital improvements.
Simple majorities by voters are needed for approval of each tax.
According to information from the City's website the tax revenue produced from the two taxes will be spent on . . .
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX: Will be spent on police equipment, city equipment, and storm water projects.
TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX: Will be spent on street maintenance, salt, brine and other materials and services for effective snow removal operations.
It
is important to note the two tax proposals do not mention any
specific streets that will be repaired if approved by voters.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, April 7th.
POLLS OPEN AT 6:00 AM AND CLOSE AT 7:00 PM
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I guess we're having a two question election for a couple of tax plans. That election could have been part of another election but since it's so darned important we need to spend 30K to make it happen.
ReplyDeleteAlso on my mind, our formerly quiet town is now looking for ways to impeach aldermen. If this is related to Latrice Thomas- isn't that an admission that her removal by the mayor was not legit? I guess another 30K for the "hired gun" attorney will make everything right. Don't kid yourself.
What happened with the speed bumps or humps idea? The mayor has a negative opinion of speed bumps. Got it.
I was hoping that in Raytown we might be able to avoid some of the controversies that bigger cities have. We could be looking at ways to approach the growing "un-housed" issue. We could be looking at how to create a better learning atmosphere in our school district. We could be looking for ways to afford litter cleanup. Is everything hunky dory at the bowen apartments now? Is there anything that can be done about landlords who will not maintain properties?
What we're doing here instead is trying to find ways to impeach aldermen, and arguing about whether or not the mayor has overstepped his authority. The matters currently at the top of our city government's agenda, are a result of bad decisions. It's just my opinion and it's worth what you paid for it, but maybe it's time to consider that the best person to have as a mayor or alderman might be someone who isn't afraid of saying "I don't know," instead of one who knows everything.
Nope, Nope, Nope on tax renewals. Not till we clean house of the Mayor and his puppets!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow we will have a choice to either continue two sales taxes or say we are tied of additional expenses that unlike tariffs actually have a say on how things impact our families. The up and down instability, thanks to one individual who keeps playing with setting tariffs is hurting families like those in Raytown. His need to be some great general like Eisenhower is causing gas prices to slowly continue to climb. Broken promise promise of lower food prices continues to leave many hard working Raytown families struggling.
ReplyDeleteNow Raytown could lessen this a little!
It gets worse from men who what folks like in Raytown to pay higher sales tax and sales tax on services all so the rich pay less.
All of these leaders, just like our own mayor are tied to the republican party.It is time we say enough is enough and no more taxes.
Tomorrow i've made my decision and i'm voting no!
Conflicting interest you decide:
ReplyDeleteEarlier today, someone shared a post where the Raytown Chamber of Commerce is endorsing the two tax questions that we will all vote on tomorrow. This normally would seem acceptable and expected, as it would be a win for the City of Raytown. What's the problem with the endorsement? Is the city has been running funds through the chamber for things like the upcoming world soccer games. NO vote of the people!
NO vote of the Board of Aldermen!
The unknown is the dollar amount and even more important; how is the money really spent. I wonder if anyonehas sunshined the city and chamber to find out the specifics. Yes, non-profits who received taxpayers money must respond to specific questions related to those funds to include the meetings minutes from the non-profit.
With unanswered questions related to the funding from City Hall, and now an endorsement from the Chamber doesn't this say vote "NO".
Let us all start sunshining a little bit more and more than just City Hall.
Tomorrow VOTE NO!
I understand the mayor has been celebrating the victory last night. He knows the city is going to be hurting for money.If he doesn't bring alderman Thomas back ASAP. We live on the Western side of Missouri and the courts here are very generous to individuals that have to sue when their civil rights have been violated as was done with Ms. Thomas. The longer the miss thomas, it's not returned to the her seat because of the mayor violating state law.The more money she will be entitled to through the courts. The more alderman that decide they know right from wrong; when the right they only know is to protect the mayor we'll only help the increased payout to Ms. Thomas. The reality of this whole fiasco is a former police officer should know right from wrong; should know they have to follow the law. However, we are now at least thirty thousand dollars in the whole, because the mayor broke the law. It will be interesting if the board does the right thing, and removes not alderman Thomas, but the person that decided they were above the law.
ReplyDelete