info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas property tax bill signed into law

info2022-04-18T00:24:05-05:00April 18th, 2022|

A bill that backers say will provide some property tax relief to Kansans was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly. House Bill 2239 increases the state's exemption for residential property taxes from $20,000 to $40,000 of appraised valuation. The bill also allows some personal property taxes to be prorated and gives county commissioners more authority to abate property taxes in cases of property destroyed by disasters. “Our fiscal responsibility has put Kansas back on track,” the governor said in a press release. “We’ve been able to fully fund our schools, fix our roads and bridges, balance the budget, and cut property taxes, [...]

Eliminating late fees pays off for Emporia Public Library

info2022-04-18T00:14:45-05:00April 18th, 2022|

The Emporia Public Library became one of the first libraries in the state to eliminate late fines in Dec. 2019. Now, many other libraries throughout the state are following suit. Robin Newell, library director says discussions about removing library fines took place from 2016 to 2018. Those discussions started with staff considering three main issues. The first issue staff considered was how library fines were preventing access for individuals, specifically low-income individuals. “When we looked at it, fines were a barrier, people couldn’t afford the fines and then they weren’t coming back in,” Newell said. Source: Emporia Gazette

Wichita poised to pump an extra $14.6 million into Riverfront Stadium district

info2022-04-18T00:12:15-05:00April 18th, 2022|

Wichita is poised to pump an additional $14.6 million into its Riverfront Stadium district, including a new parking garage, tax breaks for the Wind Surge owners’ private development company, Arkansas River improvements and a federal-funded skybridge over McLean Boulevard. In return, the Wind Surge’s minor-league baseball team owners’ development companies — WRLP and EPC — would agree to develop two acres sold by the city at $1 an acre in 2019. The plan calls for two new office buildings between the stadium and McLean and a 160-room hotel across the street, overlooking the Arkansas River and downtown Wichita. Source: Local News [...]

Manhattan to celebrate Bridget Everett Day

info2022-04-18T06:57:42-05:00April 17th, 2022|

Bridget Everett’s homecoming is about to get real. And official. The star of a hit television series set in Manhattan, she’s coming back here for an official recognition — Bridget Everett Day — put on by the city government and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. There’ll be a public gathering as well. The details are not entirely nailed down, but the event is planned for May 3, Everett and CVB director Karen Hibbard confirmed in interviews with The Mercury. The idea, Hibbard said, is to recognize and honor Everett, whose show, “Somebody, Somewhere” has been renewed for a second season on [...]

Municipalities around Wichita receive $15.5M in state grants for eco-devo projects

info2022-04-17T23:42:13-05:00April 17th, 2022|

While Wichita secured a $5 million grant to fund riverfront improvements surrounding its downtown baseball stadium, other communities in the metro area also received money through the state's Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) program. Projects in Andover, Augusta, El Dorado and Wellington joined the 35 recipients in the program, which offers matching grants to transformational infrastructure projects statewide that support economic development. Source: Wichita Business Journal

Completed bond projects in Wichita metro area make a big statement

info2022-04-18T06:58:31-05:00April 17th, 2022|

Construction is starting to wrap up on the big-ticket bond projects at school districts in the Wichita area, signaling a new generation of more spacious and modern education facilities. In Derby, work on a new Cooper Elementary finished in the fall, and a new building for Oaklawn Elementary opened at the start of the spring semester. Andover Public Schools' most recent completion was an aquatics center attached to the new Andover High. Before that, work finished on a new Center for Professional Studies, home to a program that equips students with the employability skills they need to succeed in the workforce. [...]

What will it take to replace the tens of thousands of trees cut down in Wichita?

info2022-04-18T06:59:07-05:00April 17th, 2022|

Harold Schlechtwag has started calling Wichita “Stump City.” But he’s hoping it doesn’t stick. It came to Schlechtwag, one of the founders of a new local environmental group, when he counted the tree stumps in his neighborhood. “In a two-block area around my house, I discovered seven stumps, some of which are quite old trees,” Schlechtwag said. Some of the trees that had been chopped down were on city easements, between a curb and a sidewalk. Others had been on private land. “One of them was removed by the person who flipped a house, before he renovated that house to sell [...]

All 3 deputies wounded in Cowley County shooting have been released from the hospital

info2022-04-17T23:23:57-05:00April 17th, 2022|

On Friday, a shooting that occurred in Cowley County left three deputies with gunshot wounds and the female suspect dead. Since then, all three deputies have been released from the hospital in good condition. Around 12:10 p.m. on Friday, Cowley County deputies responded to a report about a suspicious vehicle located about five miles north of Winfield, parked a quarter-mile west of U.S. Highway 77 on 122nd Road. Three deputies approached the vehicle and made contact with a female driver. After refusing to comply with their commands to step out of the vehicle, they attempted to remove her. She then brandished [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 14, 2022

info2022-04-17T16:21:46-05:00April 17th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Liberal hires Russell Varnado as city manager

info2022-04-17T11:42:54-05:00April 17th, 2022|

The City of Liberal will officially have a new city manager starting in June. ... “We have gone through the initial interviews, follow-up interviews and tours and visits to Liberal, and we’ve decided to hire Russell Varnado to be our next city manager,” Liberal Mayor Jeff Parsons said. “Everyone’s had a chance to look over the contract, and he’s scheduled to begin June 2. I’m excited and I think he’s going to do a great job.” During the commissioners’ comments, the commissioners praised Burke’s work as city manager and other work with the city. “I’d like to thank Cal for the time [...]

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