info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Emerging Leaders: Wichita neglects downtown with east-versus-west mentality

info2022-04-04T07:03:30-05:00April 3rd, 2022|

A lot has changed in the 14 years that Katrina Gough has lived near downtown Wichita. "I used to be too afraid to walk downtown and enjoy everything we had down here," said Gough, who works at WaterWalk. "Now it feels very comfortable... Walking down here, that's the joy of being so close to downtown, and I think a lot more people would take advantage of it, but we've got this weird divide in Wichita where east side doesn't want to come too far west, or west side doesn't come too far east. "It doesn't make it easy to get everyone [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 1, 2022

info2022-04-03T09:38:27-05:00April 3rd, 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.

Kansas Court of Appeals: Refunding Bonds & Special Assessments

info2022-04-08T09:40:27-05:00April 1st, 2022|

After accepting a developer's petition to finance street, sewer, and water improvements for a housing development under K.S.A. 12-6a01 et seq., the City of Wichita levied special assessments against David L. and Leslie J. Snodgrass (Appellants), and other property owners in 2004. The City issued bonds to pay for the improvements, then in 2011 issued refunding bonds to benefit from lower interest rates. But the City did not refund to property owners any of the money it saved by doing so. Appellants sued the City and individually named defendants asserting an entitlement to money based on the difference between the interest [...]

Lawmakers inch toward food sales tax deal

info2022-04-01T07:06:33-05:00April 1st, 2022|

Kansas lawmakers may have a new plan for cutting the state’s food sales tax as the Legislature approaches a pair of deadlines on the governor’s signature policy proposal. Gov. Laura Kelly and the House and Senate tax committees have put forth their own proposals, but none have been debated or passed by either chamber of the Legislature. Rep. Adam Smith, R-Weskan, laid out the concept during a Wednesday conference committee between tax policymakers — a meeting of select senators and representatives to hammer out differences between bills. The plan would cut the state’s 6.5% sales tax rate on food — the [...]

Hutchinson Schools’ new superintendent balances military career and new role in education

info2022-04-01T07:05:23-05:00April 1st, 2022|

In early February, Hutchinson Public Schools USD 308 Board of Education named Dawn Johnson the new superintendent for the 2022-2023 school year. Since then, Johnson said she's been planning what she intends to do in her first year as superintendent. Johnson's career in education began more than 30 years ago. She spent the first half as an educator, teaching English to middle and high school students. Source: Hutch News

Municipal Bond Trends for March 31, 2022

info2022-04-01T07:04:19-05:00April 1st, 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.

Baxter Springs PD receives donation to buy ten AR-15 rifles

info2022-04-01T06:51:52-05:00April 1st, 2022|

A local police department just received a $7,500 donation to update equipment. The Ronald O. Thomas Charitable Foundation donated a check to the Baxter Springs Police Department today. The donated funds have purchased ten AR-15 rifles and optics for each officer. Prior to the donation, the department had three rifles that were becoming outdated. The rifles will provide a better quality of weaponry and will protect officers in high-risk situations. "Should an incident or an active shooter event take place within our community, it allows us to respond and place, accurate rounds on a target without endangering innocent bystanders," said Brian [...]

2-year Treasury yield tops 10-year rate, a ‘yield curve’ inversion that could signal a recession

info2022-04-01T00:11:39-05:00April 1st, 2022|

The 2-year and 10-year Treasury yields inverted for the first time since 2019 on Thursday, sending a possible warning signal that a recession could be on the horizon. The bond market phenomenon means the rate of the 2-year note is now higher than the 10-year note yield. This part of the yield curve is the most closely watched and typically given the most credence by investors that the economy could be heading for a downturn when it inverts. The 2-year to 10-year spread was last in negative territory in 2019, before pandemic lockdowns sent the global economy into a steep recession [...]

Coffeyville Municipal Light & Power Recognized for Reliable Electric Service

info2022-04-01T00:10:13-05:00April 1st, 2022|

Coffeyville Municipal Light & Power has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2021. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities. “Once again, public power utilities have demonstrated their commitment to providing highly reliable power to their customers.” said Alex Hofmann, APPA’s Vice [...]

The Main Street Approach helps entire community

info2022-04-01T00:07:48-05:00April 1st, 2022|

When a new program is introduced into a strict environment there can be many misinterpretations of what the program is or what it does and that can be harmful if not clarified. For instance, the Main Street program is only for downtown. That in itself is erroneous. Main Street was a program born out of the “downtown depression”. The program is over 40 years old and will invest 25 million dollars in the next five years into America’s downtowns. When a community’s downtown thrives, so do other businesses. Think of it this way, you don’t treat a toothache by taking aspirin. [...]

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