info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Local Govs Will Spend Stimulus Relief in Different Ways

info2021-03-18T07:16:06-05:00March 17th, 2021|

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), states and localities will once again receive billions of dollars to reduce the financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But this time local government spending of those funds will look different from before. The ARP works to restart the economy through a well-established plan that encourages vaccine development and pumps massive amounts of federal funding into the economy. In addition to stimulus checks for most people, state and local governments will receive an extra $350 billion, with $65.1 billion in direct federal aid for counties and an additional $1.5 billion for [...]

Hillsboro utility bills may soar for 2 1/2 years

info2021-03-18T07:36:07-05:00March 17th, 2021|

Hillsboro electric customers will likely see their household electric bills go up 8.4% — an average of $15.33 a month — for the next 24 to 30 months. The increase, motivated by the same factors that could increase bills in Marion, too, will be decided at a city council meeting April 6. City administrator Matt Stiles told city councilmen Tuesday that the rate increase would be necessary to offset a dramatic spike in energy prices during February’s subzero temperatures and a resulting surcharge imposed by the city’s electricity provider. Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Winfield gas bills to increase for 6 years

info2021-03-18T07:51:38-05:00March 17th, 2021|

The City of Winfield’s plan to spread out natural gas costs accrued during February’s cold weather emergency will result in customers paying an average of $29 more per month over a six-year period to help pay off a state-backed loan the city took out to help pay suppliers. Customers should expect to see utility bills reflecting the increased usage costs beginning with the March 17 billing cycle, according to a press release Wednesday from city manger Taggart Wall. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Kansas Legislature passes rewrite of emergency management powers

info2021-03-18T07:12:48-05:00March 17th, 2021|

Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bipartisan reform of the state’s emergency management law, installing new checks on powers of the governor, health officers and school boards to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and future disasters. The Senate adopted the legislation by a 31-8 vote hours after it won approval in the House by a 118-5 vote. The measure now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly for consideration. In addition to modifying the decades old Kansas Emergency Management Act, the new legislation extends the current disaster declaration from March 31 to May 28. The changes to KEMA were inserted into Senate Bill 40 [...]

Mayetta sales tax increase approved by city voters

info2021-03-18T07:37:38-05:00March 17th, 2021|

Mayetta’s city sales tax will be increased by half a percentage point following yesterday’s special election, in which city electors voted to increase the sales tax, it has been reported. According to unofficial election results, the vote count was 21-5 in favor of increasing the city’s sales tax to 1.5 percent, effective April 1, to help pay back a 20-year loan through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to cover the cost of extending a new sewer line to the new Dollar General store that is currently under construction at Mayetta’s western city limits. Sewer line extension costs have been [...]

Limits on governor’s emergency powers, local COVID-19 orders pass out of Kansas Legislature

info2021-03-17T09:05:14-05:00March 17th, 2021|

A lengthy bill overhauling Kansas' emergency management laws in light of the COVID-19 pandemic passed out of Kansas Legislature Tuesday, and it will head to the governor's desk. The bill, a compromise between the House and Senate, deal with multiple issues and was a product of days of intense negotiations between the two chambers. "This was probably the most extreme example of compromise that I've seen in my 7 years..." said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita. "When we started out on this... I thought there was no way we ever would reconcile the House and Senate versions." Both versions had the primary [...]

Johnson County development under fire as Kansas lawmakers weigh expanding STAR bonds

info2021-03-17T09:02:27-05:00March 17th, 2021|

As the Kansas Senate last month debated whether to extend and expand a decades old economic incentive program one project kept coming up. Prairiefire. Critics of STAR Bonds, a 20-year-old incentive program designed to draw tourists to Kansas, held up the south Overland Park development as the ultimate failure. The picture of everything that could go wrong in a STAR Bonds development. And the reason the program should be changed or dropped altogether. Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, said a fifth of STAR Bond projects failed, and that was before a potential expansion of the program. Source: KC Star.

Municipal Bond Trends for March 16, 2021

info2021-03-17T08:43:10-05:00March 17th, 2021|

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.

LaHarpe to take loan for utilities

info2021-03-17T08:39:25-05:00March 16th, 2021|

Add LaHarpe to the growing list of communities that were socked by exorbitant electric costs following last month’s’ bitterly cold weather. City Council members have declared a state of financial emergency, necessary to apply for a low-interest loan made available by the state to pay the city’s $157,615.70 electric bill for February. The February bill was nearly 10 times the amount LaHarpe normally pays each month (a shade under $17,000 monthly.) The loan would be repaid by reinstating a portion of the fuel cost adjustment the city adds to the base electric rates LaHarpe customers pay each month. Source: The Iola [...]

Governor announces Kansas to move to Phase 3 & 4 of vaccine distribution

info2021-03-17T08:39:42-05:00March 16th, 2021|

Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced the state will move to Phase 3 and 4 of Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan on March 22, 2021. With this move, individuals between ages 16 and 64 with a preexisting medical condition and other non-healthcare workers in critical infrastructure will be eligible for vaccination. “Thanks to an increased supply in vaccine, Kansas will begin vaccinating individuals who qualify in either Phase 3 or Phase 4 on March 22,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “This expedited timeline will allow Kansans to get back to work, back to school, and back to a more normal way of life. I [...]

About info