COALITION SEEKING QUARTER CENT SALES TAX
The Platte County for Kids Coalition proposed that the Platte County Commission place on the ballot a quarter cent sales tax for a Children’s Services Fund.
Supporters of the idea say a quarter cent sales tax “would provide the children and families of Platte County with the health, educational and well-being benefits that 10 other counties in Missouri (including Clay and Jackson) are already enjoying. For only one fourth of a penny, Platte County children and families will gain services and opportunities that they need to thrive,” supporters with the Platte County For Kids Coalition said in a news release distributed late in the day on Monday. Leaders involved in youth services helped form the coalition.
During Monday morning’s meeting, all three county commissioners–Scott Fricker, Dagmar Wood and Joe Vanover–spoke in opposition to placing such a tax on the ballot.
The county commission will not be placing the question on an upcoming ballot. It is not known exactly what options might remain for the supporters of such a measure in their efforts to bring a ballot question to voters.
“It is dangerous to trust a committee of unelected government officials with spending millions of tax dollars and making decisions about what our children need for their mental health. Several urban and liberal counties, like St. Louis, Jackson County, and Boone County, have added this additional county-wide tax to expand government-run social programs,” said Vanover, second district county commissioner.
“Parents have the duty to care for their children. The history of trusting the government with the welfare of large parts of society is too awful. Many of our public schools currently have social workers. We have a safety net in place for the very few children that are abandoned by their parents. We cannot turn over to the government the responsibility of caring for the mental health of all our children,” Vanover added.
In their news release, supporters of a children’s fund tax said “suicide rates in Platte County have been climbing steadily since 2018. In 2022, 16.69% of sixth through 12th graders in Platte County reported self-injury, up from 15% in 2020. Sadly, Platte County kids are more likely than their Clay County counterparts to contemplate or attempt self-harm.”
The advocates for the children’s fund tax say “over 55% of Missouri residents benefit from Children’s Services Funds, and they are enjoying increased access to services. The behavioral health provider to patient ratio throughout Missouri is at 460:1, but Platte County is falling behind, with a ratio of 840:1.”
Supporters say in their news release that “a sales tax of one quarter of a penny would generate approximately $5 million dollars to support our children and youth by giving them the help they need to thrive in their local community.”
But county commissioners are not sold.
“Passing this tax would be a major step away from personal and family responsibility and a major step towards collective responsibility. The voters of Platte County need to see this initiative for what it is and stand up to the liberals that want to increase taxes and put a few people in charge of making decisions about what our children need,” Vanover said in an emailed statement to The Landmark. “The mental health of our children is too important to trust to a new government social welfare program.”
For more information on the Platte County For Kids Coalition, go to plattecounty4kids.com.