In Missouri, many money issues find favor despite tough times

Even in these hard times, cities and school districts Tuesday asked residents to kick in more money for services.

And despite worries of layoffs and foreclosures, most voters said "yes."

The difference may have been the relevance and urgency people saw in their lives.

Raytown residents, for example, passed a sales tax increase to put six more police officers on streets that have seen increased calls and decreased response times.

But in the Kearney School District, voters rejected a request to borrow $4.37 million to upgrade athletic facilities.

On the nonmoney front, Belton voters approved a smoking ban. No hurry to hide the ashtrays, though. Some businesses will have seven years to comply.

Here are the results of some votes:

Raytown: The half-cent sales tax boost will generate an additional $1.1 million annually. The tax, approved with 57 percent of the vote, will also fund a dispatcher, a paramedic and a crime analyst.

Greg Walters, longtime Raytown alderman, opposed putting the proposal on the ballot because "so many people are hurting financially."

Harrisonville: Three money issues were on the ballot and all passed.

A $7 million revenue bond package to improve the city's waterworks and sewer systems was approved with 69 percent of the vote.

Mayor Kevin Wood had said the city would be forced to borrow the money if voters rejected the request.

The closest of the city's three issues was when 52 percent of voters approved an eighth-cent sales tax increase to go toward police personnel and equipment.

Sixty-four percent approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase to help move the Fire Department to a full-time professional force from what is now a mostly volunteer operation.

Belton: The smoking ban will go into effect almost immediately for new businesses, but give existing establishments three years, and in some cases up to seven years, to comply.

Some City Council members said they didn't want businesses to be at a disadvantage by rushing a ban into effect, even though much of the metropolitan area has already gone smoke-free.

Belton voters also approved a 5 percent tax on hotels and motels to promote economic development and tourism.

Peculiar: Residents approved $48 million in revenue bonds to upgrade the waterworks and sewer systems. The proposal passed with 68 percent of the vote.

They also approved the city's request — with 67 percent of the vote — to issue $8 million in general obligation bonds to build an interchange on U.S. 71.

Kearney School District: Voters turned down the request — by 51 to 49 percent — to borrow the $4,375,000 to build, furnish and equip a second gymnasium and four additional tennis courts at Kearney High School. Some money would have been used for other athletic facilities.

Lone Jack School District: Voters approved $1.8 million in general obligation bonds for the addition of a library/media center and technology improvements. The measure passed with 73 percent of the vote.

Some new funding will go toward school improvements and enhancements to track and parking lots.

Residents also approved a 67-cent levy increase to go toward student performance, staff retention and technology improvements. It passed with 63 percent of the vote.

To reach Donald Bradley, call 816-234-4182 or send e-mail to dbradley@kcstar.com.

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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.