Hats off to Platte County Treasurer Rob Willard and his report about excellent investment income for the county over the past 10 years, and the fact that the county is on pace for a record-setting amount of investment income this year. Willard humbly yet importantly points out the county has been the beneficiary of record tax revenue (bookmark that fact for future reference) and rising interest rates, very helpful factors in the investment income category. Along with the nod to taxpayers, he is also quick to share the credit with his staff, the county auditor’s office, and the banking community.
To a lot of us it’s interesting that in a matter of less than two months, the Platte County Commission went from trying to convince us they needed a $410 million tax increase for a new jail to saying the county is in such good financial shape they can lower the property tax levy to one-sixth of what it was. Personally I’m a fan of the tax cut gesture, but for the commissioners this seems like conflicting messaging. Confusing times for many observers in the community, who can view the tax levy cut as just another sign voters absolutely made the right choice in kicking the half cent jail tax in the backside at the August election.
Make Tax Cuts Great Again.
Three of the Platte County Circuit Court judges are on the November ballot for retention. There is no ballot question over whether the presiding judge needs a 3,000 sq. ft. courtroom.
One of the best things about the ‘renovation’ work being done on the Platte County Courthouse is that the structural integrity of the building will remain intact and able to absorb some physical trauma, like say if the county administrator should happen to be in the building and drop his wallet.
One of the local mysteries in Platte City has to do with gasoline prices. GasBuddy reports the average price for a gallon of gas in the Kansas City area is $2.74 as of Monday. But again, Platte City is on the high side. Noticeably higher. The price at most stations in Platte City as of this writing is $2.79. Couldn’t help but notice the price for a gallon of gasoline in Legends in KCK, just off I-435, was $2.61 on Sunday. And keep in mind Kansas has higher gas taxes than Missouri, yet still a considerably lower price per gallon than what we’re seeing in northern Platte County.
I guess Platte City gasoline retailers can brag that they’re lower than the national average, which is $3.13. That national number is down 11 cents from a month ago and 56 cents per gallon lower than a year ago at this time.
More on this in a future edition, but a ballot question for voters in the Platte County R-3 School District is back after only a wait of 3.5 years. The Metropolitan Community College is asking voters in the R-3 district to approve the school district being attached to the MCC district. If approved, this would raise the tax levy in the R-3 district by .1780 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Supporters of the measure say if approved, this would allow residents of the school district to be eligible for reduced MCC tuition at the in-district rate.
My guess is that this question will again face a very tough audience. When it was proposed in 2021, voters in the R-3 district rejected it with 68% opposed to only 32% in favor. From The Landmark’s reporting on the topic when the votes were in after the April 2021 election: “To break it down, in the Platte County portion of the R-3 district it was opposed 2,522 to 1,007, while in the Clay County portion of R-3 it found a more accepting audience, with 217 yes and 81 no.” We went on to report in 2021 that: “Opponents had spoken out about the lack of transparency in the ballot question from MCC. Ballot language did not point out that passage would mean a new tax for residents of the R-3 district. Proponents of the measure point out passage of the attachment question would mean lower tuition for residents of the Platte County R-3 School District, with the cost per credit hour with attachment at $107, considerably less than the $198 without it.”
Looks like the quarter cent “children’s services fund” sales tax on the November ballot in Platte County has some organized opposition. Americans For Prosperity (AFP) paid for some mailers that arrived in a lot of mailboxes, including at our residence, on Monday.
One side of the card says: “Welcome to Platte County. Land of many taxes. Now they want more. Vote no on the Platte County question.”
The paid-for-by line on the flyer says: “Paid for by Americans For Prosperity, Emily Seidel, chief executive officer, PO Box 94, Jefferson City, MO 65102.”
According to the organization’s website: “AFP’s grassroots, policy, government affairs, communications, political, and education and training capabilities make us the best organization to change the policy landscape in America.”
Interestingly, AFP did not chime in with opposition to the recent Platte County whopping half cent county jail sales tax proposal. Talk in political circles at the time said AFP sat it out because “the organization does not get involved in issues of a local level.” Hmm. There might have been more to their silence than that, because this quarter cent children’s tax is indeed a local level issue specific to Platte County and AFP isn’t being quiet about this one. Many local political observers are having a field day with theories in regard to AFP’s silence on the jail tax. Who or what convinced AFP to stay silent at jail tax time?
Still have questions about some/all of the state Constitutional Amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot? I know some of you do, because you’ve called our office. This is your lucky day. The entire wording of each amendment can be found printed on pages 7-10 of this edition. Grab a cup of coffee, your reading glasses and go to town. Take notes in case there’s a quiz later.
(If you see someone resembling Foley sitting seven rows behind the Royals dugout during Wednesday night’s playoff game vs. the Yankees let him know at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com. And maybe there’s a story to tell about this next week)
