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Raytown aldermen approve placing 0.25% parks, stormwater sales tax on Aug. 5 ballot
Summary
The Raytown Board of Aldermen voted to place a one-fourth‑percent sales tax on the Aug. 5 special election to fund parks and stormwater for seven years, splitting revenue 80% to parks and 20% to stormwater. Staff said the measure would help address roughly $5 million in deferred maintenance.
The Raytown Board of Aldermen voted May 6 to put a proposed one‑fourth of 1 percent sales tax on the Aug. 5, 2025 special election ballot to fund local parks and stormwater projects for seven years.
Park director Dave Turner told the board the city has about $5,000,000 worth of deferred maintenance and that the quarter‑cent increase would generate roughly $988,100 a year, with 80% of receipts earmarked for parks and 20% for stormwater. "We have a list of deferred maintenance and other projects that is over $5,000,000," Turner said, citing aging playgrounds and pond repairs that have already required partial closures.
Mayor Michael McDonough urged support, saying parks are a community amenity that attract residents and visitors. "It's amazing what we can accomplish," McDonough said, praising staff and volunteers for their work on earlier projects.
Board members debated timing and strategy before voting. One alderman warned a stand‑alone August election could be costly; the clerk's office was cited as estimating a stand‑alone August cost substantially higher than regular ballots. To avoid delay given a May 27 deadline to get on the Aug. 5 ballot, the board voted to suspend the rules to allow a second reading the same night; that suspension carried on roll call, 8–2.
On final passage after the second reading the board approved submitting the question to voters by roll call (recorded affirmative votes from the responding aldermen). Under the measure, if approved by a majority of voters the tax would be imposed for seven years and distributed 80% to parks and 20% to stormwater control.
If voters do not approve the Aug. 5 question, staff said the park board could seek renewal in November 2025 to avoid a funding gap when the current one‑eighth‑cent tax sunsets in March 2026.
