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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Sales Tax Questions on Tuesday, April 7th
The 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.
2 comments:
Talking about code violations.
Is the city going to do anything about the dumpster and trash behind the QT on 63rd Street. The property in question is actually on Blue Ridge Cutoff. How many travel that road to games at the Truman Complex? I saw on Facebook to watch for the city news letter. Is it going to indicated the city now has a dump? Is this the way professionals manage the appearance of our city? Is the mayor having closed door meetings to have KCMO annex us?
I can understand your position that we need improvements in Raytown. The problem is the leadership, and by this I mean Michael McDonough, has shown time and time again he could not care less for the needs of taxpayers in Raytown.
I see the parking lot at city hall has been replaced, again! I can show you streets in Raytown that have not been properly repaired in over 30 years! Why should I believe the Mayor is going to change his tune? The taxes we are voting on to "renew" have been there for over thirty years. All I can see is that the tax money from those 30 years was not spent in my neighborhood and many other neighborhoods in that time.
Why should I, or any other voter believe city hall now?
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