If you’re the kind of person who likes reminders and advance warning of tax issues on an election ballot, you’ve come to the right place.
You probably noticed on last week’s front page that a Platte County judge ordered the board of elections to place a quarter cent children’s fund tax on the November ballot in our county after petitioners surpassed the required number of signatures from registered voters. So there’s your notice, a proposal that would raise the sales tax locally by a quarter cent on every taxable purchase. That proposal needs only a simple majority to pass. This isn’t to say yes and this isn’t to say no, just passing along the news for informational purposes.
The City of Platte City just approved an increase in its real estate tax levy and has a wastewater revenue bond question on the November ballot that will bring a major increase in sewer rates. Revenue bond questions need only a simple majority to pass. Then at the April election, the Central Platte Fire District is giving serious consideration to seeking voter approval of a 10-cent levy increase. It would be a potentially substantial property tax increase for the district, if voters approve. Nothing set in stone yet, but Central Platte Fire Chief Troy Miller filled me on the potential scenario last week.
“Traditionally, our community has relied on a dedicated group of volunteer firefighters. However, we are seeing staffing shortages and due to increased personal and professional commitments, volunteer numbers have significantly decline,” Miller said. “To ensure consistent and reliable emergency response services, we have begun transitioning to a full-time department. To continue this transition requires additional funding to cover the costs associated with hiring full-time personnel, providing competitive salaries, benefits, and ongoing professional training,” Miller said. “We wish to continue with the volunteers for as long as we can maintain a reliable number of people to fill the boots and respond to calls and participate in regular training.”
I’m feeling guilty about my lack of exercise lately, so I think I’ll get back on the treadmill. This time I might even plug it in.
If you’re reading this before 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, kickoff for Chiefs season is just hours away. Congratulations to us, we made it to fall. And yes, I know the calendar tells us the beginning of fall is still a couple weeks away, but come on. Everybody knows Labor Day marks the end of summer/beginning of fall, I don’t care what the calendar says. If you disagree with that, you probably thought a $408 million jail tax was a good idea.
My favorite machine at the gym is the defibrillator.
Shout out to loyal reader Grant for his email letting me know he jumped on our two “pay your mortgage picks” on NFL season win totals, taking the Patriots under 4.5 wins and taking the Bears under 8.5 wins.
I will emphasize that Grant drove into Kansas, where sports betting is legal, to get his money down. Those of us in Missouri get a chance to legalize sports betting in November, which will save some of us from driving over to Kansas. Here’s an early November ballot question endorsement: vote yes on legalizing sports wagering in Missouri. It’s long overdue.
Just for transparency purposes, I’ll tell you that I’ve got a little bit on Baltimore +3 vs. the Chiefs Thursday night. I think the Chiefs’ defense will take a step back this season, particularly early in the year. Also, this wager serves as kind of an emotional hedge due to my Chiefs fandom. By that I mean if the Ravens win or beat the spread, I won’t be that upset with my favorite team because I’ll be cashing a ticket.
No Landmark Pick’em NFL prediction contest on our website this year. Our loyal and hard working tech guru friend, affectionately known around here as Tech Guy Schneider, is so busy with his real job (the one that actually pays him) that I was hesitant to even ask him if he had time to run our weekly contest this season. We’ll still talk football in this space occasionally and anytime you want to exchange NFL picks just shoot an email to ivan@plattecountylandmark.com.
I hate to draw attention to this, but as of this writing on Wednesday morning the Royals have not won a game since last Wednesday’s paper hit the street. Apparently my words jinxed them. If they blow a spot in the playoffs it’s all on me, you guys. I think the Royals still have enough left in the tank to secure a wild card spot in the playoffs, but man, things could get dicey. Two key injuries on one play– including a season ender for the red hot first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino–has the team limping toward the finish line.
Hopefully we’ll still get some October baseball in Kansas City. Keep in mind if the Royals finish with the second or third wild card spot, every game in their initial best of three first round series would be on the road. Under that scenario, in order to host a playoff game, the Royals will have to advance to the second round.
We’re getting a lot of reader conversation about those quotes from Joe Vanover, second district county commissioner, that we ran in our Aug. 21 column. They were doozies, with Joe talking like a super hero about the jail sales tax proposal. He said those things prior to election day, when he thought the voting public was going to jump in and pass that $408 million behemoth of a jail tax the commissioners proposed.
Joe said things like: “The forces on the left and their willing accomplices want to stop Platte County from putting criminals behind bars.” Joe’s quote that is getting the most entertainment value in some circles is this one. “As a commissioner, I stand against the forces trying to stop us from expanding the Platte County Jail.” That didn’t work out the way Joe had hoped.
A cartoon guy contacted me with an idea. He wants to draw a caricature of Joe in the role of Darth Vanover standing up against those forces. Stay tuned.
(Find Foley avoiding exercise at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
