Kansas City Ballot: Question 1 & Question 2. Why I’m voting Yes on both August 6th
Yes, I think it’s important to have a water bill that doesn’t increase 115% over the next 2 years, beautiful, useable parks, community centers that program activities for young people, seniors and the community as a whole and nicely maintained parks and boulevards. I will actually vote “Yes” on two Kansas City ballot issues next week. And I’m one that is not inclined to give the government any more money than they are already collecting. I feel that they should do the best with what they have – just like we are required to do personally.
But in Kansas City, I have heard from the actual managers in the city departments that are requesting additional funds in order to be able to operate their departments most effectively. My biggest question as a Kansas City real estate agent and citizen is what happens if we don’t approve the increase? Can they make do with what they have? And most importantly, how will it impact my real estate clients, neighbors and my personal quality of life? Sometimes fear of loss is a great motivator.
The answers that I got back lead me to believe that my loss – our loss, would be greater without the increase in revenue to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation and the Kansas City Water Departments. Because I think it is easier to justify a Yes vote on the Water Department issue, Question 2, I will start with Question 1 that impacts the Parks and Recreation Department. While they are eliminating 4 current fees/taxes (didn’t realize that), they need the half a penny sales tax to be able to keep maintaining the 12,000 acres of parkland, 10 Community Centers, 48 fountains, 29 lakes, 72 miles of trails and bikeways, golf course, tennis courts and historic sites...and more. Without it, several Community Centers will be closed, or have greatly reduced hours. Many Kansas City residents rely on the Community Centers for not only recreation, fun activities, but educational events and exercise. Will the parks that currently attract over 4 million visitors still be as attractive if the maintenance – mowing and landscaping is cut back drastically? I think not. As a Kansas City real estate agent, I know that when people are choosing a neighborhood to live, they are assessing the parks, trails, recreational options and how well the city maintains the area overall. Plus, passage includes having more money dedicated to street maintenance (key: includes snow removal, too). That’s a big deal that impacts everyone in one way or another. By being a sales tax, those who are visiting our city (either from the other side of the state line, or any other city), share in the costs of maintaining the city they are lucky to enjoy. The cost is not solely on the citizens alone. So, I’m voting Yes on Question 1.
Question 2 and the amount of money that has to be generated both upsets, and overwhelms me. Through a federal mandate, the city must do something that it should have done many, many years ago. They must upgrade our sanitary sewer system. That simply means to separate water that comes from toilets and sinks from water that ultimately flows into our rivers and streams where people may be swimming and fishing, perhaps. This correction will help to eliminate potential public health and safety issues. The overwhelming part comes with the price tag associated with doing this huge years long project. There is no getting around doing it. The question is how do we pay for it? There are basically only 2 choices – which made my decision to vote Yes on this issue pretty easy. The polling shows that most Kansas Citians agree. By voting Yes, we Kansas City residents allow the city to authorize $500 million in revenue bonds. We have 25 years to complete the project (as a note, all other cities have a shorter time line) but, we must make specifically outline progress along the way. Here is the million dollar question - Do you want to approve the bonds which will defray the costs that we pay, or if not, we absorb the entire cost? If it is not approved, according to Assistant to the Water Department Director, Sean Hennessy, next year our water bills will increase by 20%, then in the next year by 90%! That’s right, a 115% increase in a bill over 2 years that has already been steadily increasing. I choose to vote Yes. Another positive benefit for our community according to Kansas City Parks & Recreation Director, Mark McHenry, is that this project will generate 15,000 jobs according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. I say, “Let’s do it! Yes on both Question 1 & Question 2 on Tuesday, August 7th.”
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