April 2023 Prop RP-1 Tax Rate Transfer Issue

Voters approve Prop RP-1

Thank you voters for supporting Prop R-P-1! The no-tax-rate increase levy transfer issue passed with 62.5% approval.

Official election results show 2,163 "yes" votes and 1,295 "no" votes.

Screenshot of Prop RP-1 election results

Thank you voters

Prop RP-1 graphic with two buckets to represent Debt Service Fund and Operating Fund

Header with photo of Teacher Laura Streeby pointing to a map

How to register to vote

Absentee voting

Print-friendly version of flyer

Frequently Asked Questions

View the April 4 ballot

(Note: This ballot shows Raymore-Peculiar and countywide issues only. Individuals who live within cities or other taxing entities may see additional ballot questions.)

Information:

  • A Tax Rate Transfer question is on the April 4, 2023, ballot.

  • The ballot item asks voters to allow the District to transfer 50 cents of the tax rate from the debt service fund to the operating fund.

  • The tax rate transfer would take place over three years.

  • Restructuring the tax rate will allow the District to allocate resources to help recruit and retain staff, with no change to the overall tax rate.

How will the funds be used?

If approved, 100 percent of the amount produced by the tax rate transfer will be used for compensation and benefits to recruit and retain staff.

Proposition RP-1 details

  • Two tax rates comprise a school district's total tax rate: The Operational Rate and the Debt Service Rate.

    • The Operational Rate allows a school district to operate a school district, and the largest expenditure in operations is staff compensation and benefits.

    • The Debt Service Tax Rate is used for payments on bond debt, which includes new construction.

  • By law, voters may approve allowing a school district to transfer portions of a tax rate from the Debt Service Rate to the Operational Rate.

  • The Tax Rate Transfer will enable Ray-Pec to improve its ability to recruit and retain staff.

  • The Tax Rate Transfer will be phased in over a period of three years, during which time the overall tax rate is projected to remain at its current rate with ZERO Net Impact on the tax rate to community property owners. Any impact on taxes will only be the result of a change in property value.

Current Status (2022-2023)

  • Cass County—Ray-Pec ranks 3rd out of 10 public school districts for beginning teacher salary

  • Missouri districts in KC area—Ray-Pec ranks 14th out of 20 public school districts for beginning teacher salary

  • Kansas City area (Kansas and Missouri districts) —Ray-Pec ranks 21st out of 27 for beginning teacher salary

Board approves placing tax rate transfer on ballot

At a special meeting on Jan. 12, 2023, the Raymore-Peculiar School District Board of Education approved placing a tax rate transfer proposition on the April 4, 2023, ballot.

The ballot issue, called Proposition RP-1, asks voters to authorize the district to transfer 50 cents from the Debt Service Fund to the Operation Fund.

The proposed tax rate transfer will be phased in over a period of three years, and the overall tax rate is expected to remain at its current rate. This means that the tax rate is not projected to increase, resulting in a zero net impact to property owners.

Placing the tax rate transfer on the ballot comes after much research and discussion about how to improve staff compensation, which was identified by the School Board, staff, and the public as a top priority in the Strategic Plan.

Proposition RP-1 will require a simple majority to pass.