By CHRISTINE OLIVA The Kansas City Star
Date: 05/23/00 22:15
Copyright © 2000 The Kansas City Star

Not much more can be done with Raytown's current budget, Alderman Jim Aziere says.

Streets can be paved only every 15 years. Drainage problems continue to cause residents' basements to flood. Public green spaces need to be maintained. But the money can go only so far. In August residents will decide whether they want it to go a bit farther.

The Board of Aldermen voted last week to put three half-cent sales taxes on the August ballot: one for street maintenance and transportation purposes; one for capital improvements, such as street and storm-drainage projects; and one for park improvements.

Each tax will be a separate ballot issue, so residents can choose to support what is important to them, Aziere said.

"We're laying the future at the foot of the people," Aziere said. "That's what democracy is all about."

Each of the three taxes is expected to bring in $1.4 million annually, Finance Director Dan Estes said. With a new sunset clause -- added since the bill was presented to the board in January -- the three taxes combined would bring in $42 million over 10 years.

Alderman Greg Walters, who voted against putting the taxes on the ballot, said it is too much to ask voters to support three taxes at once.

"By trying to take so much we might end up with nothing," he said. "The end result will not be what we're looking for."

But Alderman Gary Knabe said that's not what he has been hearing from constituents.

"Raytown has waited way too long to do something like this," he said. "You have to pay for what you get. Nobody expects to pay 37 cents for a T-bone steak anymore."

Now it is out of the aldermen's hands, Aziere said.

"The people who want it need to get out and not just vote but go out there and sell it," Aziere said. "We're all in this together."

To reach Christine Oliva, Raytown reporter, call (816) 234-7802 or send e-mail to coliva@kcstar.com