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Raymore council sends 0.25% public-safety sales tax to April ballot after sunset amendment fails
Summary
The Raymore City Council voted Jan. 13 to place a quarter‑percent public safety sales tax measure on the April 8, 2025 ballot; a proposed 20‑year sunset amendment failed 2–6 before the council approved the measure for voter consideration by an 8–0 vote.
The Raymore City Council on Jan. 13 approved on second reading Ordinance Bill 3937 to submit a public‑safety sales tax for voter consideration at the April 8, 2025 municipal election. The ordinance would impose a city sales tax at a rate of one quarter of one percent (0.25%), with revenues "solely dedicated" to hiring, paying, equipping and training police officers, as stated in the ordinance language read at the meeting.
Councilmember Serco urged the council to place the measure before voters and described the tax as a mechanism to keep the department competitive for recruitment and retention. "This bill ... said that the tax would be collected at a rate of 1 quarter of 1% on all retail sales within the city. Revenues received would solely dedicate solely people," Serco said, addressing the council and public.
Councilmember Mills moved an amendment to limit the tax’s duration to a period "not to exceed 20 years from its adoption to sunset thereafter unless renewed by the voters prior to its expiration." Baker seconded the amendment. After brief discussion and a motion to end debate, the council voted on the amendment; the presiding officer announced the amendment failed, 2 yes and 6 no.
Following the failed amendment, the council voted to approve Bill 3937 to place the public‑safety sales tax on the April 8 ballot. The meeting record shows the motion carried unanimously, 8–0.
The meeting also handled several other routine and ordinance matters by unanimous votes. The council approved by second reading a vacation of a portion of the alley in the original plat (Bill 3933), set the date for the April 8, 2025 municipal election (Bill 3935), and authorized a contract award for printing and mailing services to Minuteman Press (Bill 3936). The council also approved a consent agenda including the Dec. 23, 2024 meeting minutes, appointments to incentive district boards, final acceptance and payment for the 2024 curb project, and final acceptance and payment for the recreation park playground.
In other business the council received the required annual tax‑increment financing (TIF) report for three TIF areas (Foxwood Village Shops; Raymore Galleria; 58 Highway and Dean Avenue); staff opened a public hearing and reported increases in economic activity tax captures for each TIF in 2024, and no members of the public offered comment during the hearing.
No changes to tax rate, ballot language, or allocation were made at the meeting; the council’s action was to send the existing ordinance language to the ballot for voter approval on April 8, 2025.
