Raytown parks budget 1/4 that of our peer cities - Will the Board of Alderman give us a chance to vote to change that?

The Raytown Board of Aldermen is discussing a proposal to continue the parks and stormwater sales tax at the current 1/8 cent level. The Board has shown considerable reluctance to consider the 1/4 cent sales tax recommended by the recent Raytown Parks Master Plan and the Raytown Parks Board.

This raises the questions: 

• Does Raytown really need an increase in its parks budget?
   
• How does Raytown's parks budget compare to other similar cities around Missouri and around the metro area?

Raytown comes in dead last in parks investment among our peer cities.

I spent a few days researching the parks budgets of Raytown and 21 similar cities around Missouri and the Kansas City metro area. I calculated parks budget per capita for each city.

Results:

• Average per-capita parks budget for all 21 cities is 4.2X Raytown's 
  
• Looking at that absolute lowest city on the list, that city's parks budget (per capita) is still almost 2X Raytown's

In short, Raytown's parks budget is 1/4 the average of our peer cities.

Raytown spends $34 per citizen annually. The average city spends $143. The lowest city other than Raytown spends $67.

If we want Raytown to be a great city, we need to take a hard look at this.

If Raytown's low parks budget concerns you, if you think Raytown citizens and not the Board of Aldermen are the right people to make the choice about the Raytown Parks/Stormwater tax, please contact your Raytown Aldermen today, and visit the Board of Aldermen meeting May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm. 

Why parks are important

Parks are one of the most important ingredients in making a city that is inviting, healthy, and livable for adults, seniors, children, and teenagers alike.

A great parks system attracts businesses and residents, increasing the city's tax base and improving property values. Citizens are happier and healthier when they have parks, outdoor recreation, and trails.

And of our peer cities are investing in parks at four times the rate, on average, that Raytown is.

Right now, Raytown is setting its parks budget for the next 10 years.

Is it acceptable that the Raytown Board of Aldermen will not even let citizens consider a small increase in its parks funding?

Is it reasonable for the Board of Aldermen alone to make a decision that will lock us into last place among our peer cities for another 10 years?

Facts about the 1/4 Cent Parks & Wastewater Sales Tax Proposal

• The tax increase proposal is very modest: Raising the parks & stormwater sales tax from 1/8 to 1/4 cent would cost 1.25 cents out of every $10 spent.
   
• The 1/4 cent tax would raise parks budget modestly, by about 20%. We are talking about raising the amount spent per citizen from $34 to $41. Remember the lowest of our peer cities spends $67.
   
• Without this modest tax increase, parks will be in a deficit situation for the next 10 years--forced to deficit spend, cut programs, or cut facilities. Is that the decision we want to make?
   
• The 1/4 cent tax would DOUBLE the amount of funding from the tax going to the city's stormwater program (assuming the Board of Aldermen keep the current 75/25 split for parks/stormwater)

Question: 

• On such an important issue, should the Raytown Board of Alderman alone decide that no tax increase is necessary, or should the Board let the people of Raytown decide?

Right now, the Board of Aldermen is set to make that choice for citizens. If the current proposal is passed, citizens' only choice will be between continuing the current parks/stormwater sales tax or no tax at all.


If Raytown's low parks budget concerns you, if you think Raytown citizens should be able to make the choice about the Raytown Parks/Stormwater tax, please contact your Raytown Aldermen today, and visit the Board of Aldermen meeting May 21st, 2019, 7:00pm. 

Information Sources & Info Summary Spreadsheet

I systematically reviewed the most recent available financial statements for 22 Missouri and Kansas cities, including Raytown. I reviewed every Missouri city with population between 20,500 and 36000 (Raytown's population is 29,211).

I also sampled Merriam, Leawood, and Overland Park and the Kansas City of the KC metro area (there are 119 cities in the Kansas City metro area, so it is not very practical to review all of them--I will be pleased to add to this database if anyone is willing to do the legwork, however).

The results are summarized in this online spreadsheet. 

The spreadsheet includes information about cities--population, total city budget, size of the city in square miles, and median household income for the city.  You can use that information to make judgements about which cities are more or less similar to Raytown.

Refining the list to only the cities most similar to Raytown - results don't change

Among the 21 cities, I selected the 10 most similar to Raytown in terms of population, square mileage, household income, and type of city (inter-ring vs outer-ring suburb vs standalone city). 

The average per-capita parks budget of all cities on the list is $143. For that list of most-similar cities, it is $145.

Raytown is $34.

Using the online spreadsheet you can make similar comparisons yourself.

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!