The Raytown Board of Aldermen is discussing a proposal to continue the parks and stormwater sales tax at the current 1/8 cent level, which will guarantee Raytown Parks run at a deficit for the next 10 year.
The alternative is a modest increase in the parks and stormwater sales tax to 1/4 cent. The 1/4 cent proposal
- Is very modest in cost - just an extra 1.25 cents on every $10 spent, or 12.5 cents on a $100 purchase
- Keeps the parks budget out of deficit spending
- Allows very modest enhancements to parks
- Doubles stormwater funding from this tax
If you want to keep Raytown Parks out of deficit spending for the next 10 years, please contact your Raytown Aldermen today, and visit the Board of Aldermen meeting May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm.
The above was a summary of the key information. For details, discussion, information sources, and more, read on . . .
If you support better parks, trails, and outdoor recreation in Raytown, please contact the Raytown City Council now - and attend the City Council meeting May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm
The link has more background and helpful hints for contacting the elected officials who represent you, in the most productive way.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen is scheduled Tuesday, May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm to have a first reading on a proposal to continue the Raytown Parks and Storm Water sales tax at current levels.
It will take a few weeks after that to finalize the vote and move forward with the proposal. So if Raytown residents want to see a different outcome, now is the time to speak up!
That's bad enough--but the inflation-adjusted value of $1.2 million in 1995 is 2.0 million in 2019.
So in real dollars Raytown Parks is not at 90% of the 1995 budget--we're at 54%.
(Master Plan p. 92)
What numbers is that recommendation based on?
Given that the Raytown current Raytown Parks Budget is dramatically lower than our peer cities in Missouri (more on that in a later article!) it is certainly worth considering raising the sales tax to the 3/8 cent or 1/2 cent level.
Currently we are a distant low outlier in parks spending--so even raising to the 1/2 cent rate would barely bring Raytown into the lowest tier of our peer cities.
But given Raytown's current difficult budget issues in other areas, it seems prudent to consider the option that keeps parks out of deficit spend and allows for some very modest enhancements, but also minimizes the tax load on citizens.
That is why many of us have lined up in support of the very most increase in the parks and stormwater tax to 1/4 cent.
That would result in a large cut to Raytown Parks budget, putting the parks system at even larger deficit than outlined above.
Why not do that? And then just eliminate some parks or whatever it takes to balance the parks budget?
By Missouri state statute, this sales tax can range up to 1/2 cent and can be divided between parks and stormwater at the discretion of the city or voters.
Currently, Raytowns park and stormwater sales tax is set at 1/8 cent. It is divided 75% parks and 25% stormwater.
The graph above shows projected revenue to stormwater, assuming the current 75/25 split is maintained. Raising the tax to 1/4 cent would double the amount dedicated to stormwater.
Note that Raytown City can, and as far as I understand, does use other General Revenue funds for stormwater projects. So this tax provides additional funding for stormwater, not the only possible source of funding.
Stormwater funding and project selection is under the control of the Raytown Board of Aldermen.
The information about projected parks budget for different sales tax levels comes from page 92 of the Master Plan.
The Master Plan has several parts:
It is worth remembering that it is expensive and time-consuming to conduct surveys of this type, which go to the trouble to follow best practices, reach a random sampling of the population, and reach enough residents to achieve statistical validity.
But the reason we spend that time and trouble is because the results have a degree and validity and reliability that is important when making wide-reaching decisions affecting our community.
The above was a summary of the key information. For details, discussion, information sources, and more, read on . . .
All the details, sources, discussion
About the Raytown parks and stormwater sales tax and what the Board of Aldermen is proposing
Raytown is discussing the renewal of Raytown parks and stormwater sales tax, which is currently set at 1/8 of a cent. The tax is up for renewal soon and will expire if not renewed.
On Tuesday, May 21st, the Raytown Board of Aldermen has placed on their budget a proposal to continue the current 1/8 cent parks and stormwater tax at its current rate.
That sounds like a prudent policy, doesn't it? Just hold the line on the parks and stormwater tax--maintain the current system.
It sounds like a reasonable and prudent plan. So why isn't it?
Because, based on the projections of the recent Raytown Parks Master Plan, continuing the current 1/8 parks/stormwater sales tax guarantees that Raytown Parks will be in a deficit situation for the next ten years.
The projected deficit is $80,000 per year, or $800,000 over 10 years.
And that is simply the budget to maintain current parks and continue current programs, with no enhancements or improvements at all.
If you support better parks, trails, and outdoor recreation in Raytown, please contact the Raytown City Council now - and attend the City Council meeting May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm
If you feel that Raytown needs better parks, trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities, please take the time to contact your Raytown Aldermen now. They need to hear from you!
Several Aldermen have indicated that they are not hearing from Raytown citizens asking for better parks and recreation facilities. If we want them to support better parks, trails, and recreation in Raytown, we need to ask!
The link has more background and helpful hints for contacting the elected officials who represent you, in the most productive way.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen is scheduled Tuesday, May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm to have a first reading on a proposal to continue the Raytown Parks and Storm Water sales tax at current levels.
It will take a few weeks after that to finalize the vote and move forward with the proposal. So if Raytown residents want to see a different outcome, now is the time to speak up!
The Details - Why can't Raytown Parks continue to operate on the exact same budget and taxes as they have in the past? Because we're at 54% of the 1995 budget . . .
The presentation Raytown Parks Director Dave Turner gave to the Raytown Board of Aldermen on May 7th, 2019, was eye-opening. Among the items he shared with the Board at that meeting was a summary of the Raytown Parks annual expenditures:- 1995: $1,165,697
- 2019: $1,047,733
That's bad enough--but the inflation-adjusted value of $1.2 million in 1995 is 2.0 million in 2019.
So in real dollars Raytown Parks is not at 90% of the 1995 budget--we're at 54%.
The Details - What does the Raytown Parks Master Plan recommend and why?
The topline recommendation of the Raytown Parks Master Plan is this:
(Master Plan p. 92)
What numbers is that recommendation based on?
Currently we are a distant low outlier in parks spending--so even raising to the 1/2 cent rate would barely bring Raytown into the lowest tier of our peer cities.
But given Raytown's current difficult budget issues in other areas, it seems prudent to consider the option that keeps parks out of deficit spend and allows for some very modest enhancements, but also minimizes the tax load on citizens.
That is why many of us have lined up in support of the very most increase in the parks and stormwater tax to 1/4 cent.
Why not just reduce the park system?
One Alderman has suggested keeping the sales tax at 1/8 cent and changing the parks/stormwater ratio from the current 75/25 to 50/50.That would result in a large cut to Raytown Parks budget, putting the parks system at even larger deficit than outlined above.
Why not do that? And then just eliminate some parks or whatever it takes to balance the parks budget?
- Raytown's parks system is already noticeably deficient in comparison with our peer cities and national standards
- Raytown's parks budget is already roughly 1/4 of that of comparable peer cities in Missouri (data on that coming soon)
What about stormwater? A 1/4 cent sales tax would double stormwater funding
Let's not forget about stormwater:
By Missouri state statute, this sales tax can range up to 1/2 cent and can be divided between parks and stormwater at the discretion of the city or voters.
Currently, Raytowns park and stormwater sales tax is set at 1/8 cent. It is divided 75% parks and 25% stormwater.
The graph above shows projected revenue to stormwater, assuming the current 75/25 split is maintained. Raising the tax to 1/4 cent would double the amount dedicated to stormwater.
Note that Raytown City can, and as far as I understand, does use other General Revenue funds for stormwater projects. So this tax provides additional funding for stormwater, not the only possible source of funding.
Stormwater funding and project selection is under the control of the Raytown Board of Aldermen.
Information sources
The information above come from the recent Raytown Parks Master Plan and related materials available on the Raytown Parks and Recreation web page (scroll to the bottom).The information about projected parks budget for different sales tax levels comes from page 92 of the Master Plan.
The Master Plan has several parts:
- Master Plan, approved by the Parks Board
- Parks Implementation Plan
- Master Plan Findings Presentation
- ETC Institute's Findings Report for a Statistically Valid Citizen Survey conducted as part of the Parks Master Plan
It is worth remembering that it is expensive and time-consuming to conduct surveys of this type, which go to the trouble to follow best practices, reach a random sampling of the population, and reach enough residents to achieve statistical validity.
But the reason we spend that time and trouble is because the results have a degree and validity and reliability that is important when making wide-reaching decisions affecting our community.
If you feel that Raytown needs better parks, trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities, please take the time to contact your Raytown Aldermen now. They need to hear from you!
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