May 30, 2020
By Dan Hall
No doubt, many reading this epistle will disagree, but in America good people can often disagree. So, dear reader, it may come as a shock to you, who are all taxpayers, that this writer finds the proposed City of Lee’s Summit and the R-7 School District tax increases to be over the top. Here is the shock… we live in a community that is extremely highly taxed already! We have public school taxes among the very highest in the entire state of Missouri (perhaps that is why we “payoff” past school superintendents so richly!)
Did you realize, dear taxpayer, for an average home owner about 66% of your property taxes are used by the R-7 Public School District. So, if your estimated 2019 property tax bill is say, $4,500, the school district will take nearly $3,000! So, never be deceived, when told that we voters are getting a bargain when you read, “no tax increase bond issue.” Please understand, that what is not said, is that an old bond will be expiring in a few years so you will not notice the new spending to replace it. Likewise, their expensive 4 color mailers will fail to mention that you would have received a tax decrease which would save you tax dollars in future years.
Please reader, don’t misunderstand, this writer does support quality education, he also knows that no government unit ever will ask you for a tax decrease, “cause we just don’t know how to spend all the money we already get from you taxpayers!”
So, I don’t blame the R-7 School District nor the City of Lee’s Summit for always wanting more money…it is just in their nature. So now the city is asking for a tax increase from your online and out-of-state purchases. The city claims this new tax will only be paid by such far away venders, but do they truly believe that these taxes (and every tax paid by any seller) are not then incorporated into the higher price of that purchase? Come on…give me a break…after all, I also got a public school education. So, I understand simple economics. Just know that the seller always passes along any tax to the buyer…the consumer always winds up paying the taxes. PERIOD!
Which brings me to shocker #2…dear reader, please remember that in the highly unlikely event that one of our local taxing districts cuts its levy (taxes) then, dear Jackson County property owner, you will be paying on an average about 18% higher property taxes than in 2018. So, say your last year’s taxes were $4,100, (through the wonders of Jackson County bi-yearly property tax reassessment increase) you will be paying an ADDITIONAL $738 this year. So, anyone who claims that we aren’t paying more taxes already must figure we are all quite ignorant of simple economics. Perhaps the school district and city could use this “windfall” in new property tax revenues to fund necessary projects. Just saying!
Now, if you truly believe that, right now, in the midst of 30 million people unemployed, thanks to the pandemic, all that is needed for a better life is to pay for even more municipal costs and government expenses vote that way. But, if you are literate, and understanding, of the need to stop more government spending, then READ MY LIPS, please vote NO NEW TAXES on June 2.
