info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Covid-19 Pandemic Drives Municipal Borrowing to 10-Year High

info2021-01-12T08:03:02-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Municipal bond issuance in 2020 was the highest in a decade, reflecting the collapse of interest rates and the increased costs cities and state governments are facing from Covid-19 shutdowns. Bonds for new projects reached $252 billion last year, according to Refinitiv, a small increase from the previous year. The new borrowing drove the total amount of outstanding muni debt above $3.9 trillion for the first time since 2013, according to the Federal Reserve data from the third quarter.... Despite the increase in availability of muni bonds, investor demand remains strong. Central bank rate cuts have left investors clamoring for yield. [...]

Amid tension and national tumult, Lenexa’s new police chief aims to build trust in law enforcement

info2021-01-12T07:59:39-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Leaning over the desk of her new office at headquarters, Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman looked darkly up at the television. She has only been police chief for a few weeks now. Still, the seasoned law enforcement officer with 31 years of experience — with 27 of those coming in Lenexa — watched with disappointment last Wednesday as the siege at the U.S. Capitol unfolded before her eyes. Source: Prairie Village Post

Fed’s Bostic sees possible interest rate hike as soon as the second half of next year

info2021-01-12T07:58:31-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Interest rates could rise sooner than forecast as the economy recovers more quickly than expected from the throes of the Covid-19 damage, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said Monday. While most of his colleagues don't see a rate hike coming through until at least 2023, Bostic said that he thinks the emergency measures the Fed has taken to combat the pandemic can start to be rolled back within the next two years if not sooner. ... At their December meeting, members of the Federal Open Market Committee submitted their individual expectations for the next several years. The median expectation for [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 11, 2021

info2021-01-12T07:53:33-06:00January 12th, 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.

Lenexa proposes regulations for homeless shelters

info2021-01-12T07:51:17-06:00January 11th, 2021|

As winter bears down on Shawnee Mission, Lenexa has proposed regulations for homeless shelters within city limits. The need for such regulations came to light after Project 1020, a cold-weather shelter, requested approvals to operate out of a church last winter. At the time, Lenexa did not have homeless shelter regulations within its city code. After the city denied the request and the church sued the city in federal court, the city agreed to allow the shelter to operate temporarily while staff develops new code. Lenexa is now working through a months-long process to refine the city code, first introduced to councilors on [...]

Incoming Iola city administrator driven to give back

info2021-01-12T07:52:33-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Matthew Rehder figures it was his upbringing that led him to work in the public sector. “I had taken advantage of years of rec programs,” Rehder recalled. “As a kid, I played for city recreation programs, in city parks, all that kind of stuff.” It was a desire to give back to the community that first led Rehder, 42, to join AmeriCorps — the domestic version of the Peace Corps — then pursue a public administration degree in college. Those steps led Rehder to become Iola’s next city administrator. Source: The Iola Register

Municipal Bond Trends for January 8, 2021

info2021-01-11T06:57:58-06:00January 11th, 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.

Johnson County homeless shelter can’t meet the demand. Can these proposed laws help?

info2021-01-11T06:54:13-06:00January 11th, 2021|

It’s the only place in Kansas’ most affluent county for homeless single adults without children to stay. And it’s temporary, only for the winter. There are no beds for such people the rest of the year in a time when advocates say the county’s homeless population is growing — and when evictions and job loss during the pandemic are expected to displace many more. But for the first time, some major cities in Johnson County are considering whether their laws should clearly allow shelters. Most of the cities lack any written rules stating when or where a shelter is permissible, which [...]

Save Century II group floats a proposed law to save building

info2021-01-11T06:52:11-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Save Century II efforts now include asking lawmakers to force a binding vote on any moves to take down Century II. "Has some teeth to it," says Celeste Racette with Save Century II. "Actually makes it binding and makes it where there has to be an election. Has to be put on the ballot." Wichita city council member Brandon Johnson says council members have moved to have a public vote on the future of Century II. "So the future of Century II will be up to a public vote," said Johnson this week. Still, Racette says her group is going after [...]

After going fully remote, Wichita school board may consider bringing its students back

info2021-01-11T06:52:43-06:00January 11th, 2021|

A rise in community COVID-19 cases and staff shortages because of quarantine prompted the Wichita Board of Education to send its students home last month. Now the board may be asked at its Monday meeting to bring them back, according to an email sent to employees by Superintendent Alicia Thompson. The email says that the “administration is considering a recommendation” that would bring elementary school students back on Jan. 13, pre-K students back on Jan. 14 and then a blended model for middle and high school would start Jan. 25. The blended model would have different groups of students learning in [...]

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