There's a FANTASTIC article today in The Star which almost makes up for the many dumbass comments of their mostly JoCo based editorial board.
Apparently, if the light rail tax passes or a JoCo bioscience initiative gets the nod:
"The metropolitan area will for the first time see sales tax rates above 8 cents on every dollar."
The article quotes some academic douche who said that a large scale revolt will only come when the tax rate reaches 10 cents on the dollar . . . But I doubt it, especially when Kansas City Proper sees very little in return for its money and a toy train proposal that doesn't make any financial sense and doesn't do as good of a job at transporting people as the bus is set to take another huge chunk out of this town's pocketbook.
The sales tax rate is already over 8% in much of the area. Special taxing districts allow real estate owners to levy a sales tax for their projects. I think the Plaza, Zona Rosa and many others have them.
ReplyDeleteFor those who think sales taxes are pennies a day, a $25,000 car will cost $2,000 in sales tax.
The beauty of using sales tax to fund various programs is that people are told its only 1/8 of a cent or its only 3/8 of a cent. The Pat Gray "cup-of-coffee-a-day" line used in every one of his campaigns is meant to distract people from the actual dollar amount of the total sales tax paid.
ReplyDeleteThose cups are now adding up and having a negative impact on individual tax payers. Will KC voters wise up? That is the question. We haven't even delt with a sewer tax, except to have our water bills go up. There's a hidden tax.
NOW MORE THAN EVER IT'S IMPORTANT TO KILL THE LIGHT RAIL TAX.
ReplyDeleteI don't go to Zona Rosa and the Plaza I buy my meals at Macdonalds and other fast food places because it is in my budget. I know it sounds weird but the tax bill on my lunches is starting to add up to where I am going to not eat lunch one day every week. That will not hurt me but it is not fun. What is only a little increase has been used over and over and no one seems to understand that it all mounts up particulary for those of us who will never get any raise in pay except if the state passes a higher minimum wage.
ReplyDeleteI ride the bus and I have gotten an apartment that is one bus ride from work. My entertainment has to be on the route home and finish before 7:00PM or I have to walk. We need more buses going more places during a longer time each day.
Also, something that many people don't know: in the State of Missouri, food at grocery stores is exempt from State Tax, however the County & local tax is still accessed. Why can't the counties and the cities take the lead from the State and drop their tax also? Also, for you folks just over the state line in Kansas - Kansas still charges full boat!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that in certain areas of the city, hotels and restraunts are taxed much higher.
ReplyDeleteFirst time over 8%.... what rock are you living under? Maybe that's the sales tax rate on the porn shops that you visit, but the sales tax is just shy of 10 cents on the dollar.
ReplyDelete