info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita expects to have extra money the next two years

info2023-07-28T07:36:53-05:00July 27th, 2023|

Wichita city government expects to collect a $26.7 million surplus this year and next, more than enough to offset property tax revenue increases for 2023 and 2024. The city expects a $12.6 million budget surplus for 2023 and a $14.1 million surplus in 2024. At the same time, it’s budgeting for $12.6 million more in property tax revenue for next year. The city could have used this year’s surplus to lower the mill levy and offset next year’s property tax revenue increase. Instead, the City Council approved keeping the mill levy the same, which means property owners whose properties increased in [...]

Fed approves hike that takes interest rates to highest level in more than 22 years

info2023-07-28T07:37:18-05:00July 27th, 2023|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved a much-anticipated interest rate hike that takes benchmark borrowing costs to their highest level in more than 22 years. In a move that financial markets had completely priced in, the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee raised its funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a target range of 5.25%-5.5%. The midpoint of that target range would be the highest level for the benchmark rate since early 2001. Markets were watching for signs that the hike could be the last before Fed officials take a break to watch how the previous hikes are impacting [...]

Aspiring teachers in Kansas have a new paid path to career through pilot program

info2023-07-27T09:29:15-05:00July 27th, 2023|

Kansas’ State Department of Education kicked off a pilot program Tuesday morning meant to provide aspiring teachers with an alternative path to their career. The Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program allows students to get four years of full-time paid employment as educators while pursuing their degree in education. “If you can learn on the job, you have an opportunity to see the entire breadth of the education world, and you also have an opportunity to figure out if you really love this profession, because if you don’t, then there are other places you can get a job,” said Kara Belew, a [...]

Mission weighs new limits on tobacco sales near schools, churches

info2023-07-28T07:37:52-05:00July 27th, 2023|

Mission’s longtime effort to tackle rules on selling tobacco is making headway. The Mission Planning Commission on Monday voted 7-0 to recommend city council approval of an ordinance that requires new tobacco or e-cigarette retailers to comply with distance restrictions in what the city is calling “buffer zones.” ... This comes after years of attempts in Mission to limit minors’ access to tobacco and e-cigarettes. Under the ordinance, new tobacco or e-cigarette business licenses would not be permitted within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a park or another tobacco or e-cigarette retailer. Source: Prairie Village Post

Leawood nixes plan to slash height of tall building projects

info2023-07-28T07:38:58-05:00July 27th, 2023|

At its Tuesday meeting, the Leawood Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny changes to the city’s development ordinance that would have significantly lowered the maximum height for offices and mixed-use projects. The change would have lowered the maximum height for buildings zoned for planned office or mixed use from 90 feet to 55 feet. This would generally have left room for a four-story building, instead of Leawood’s current maximum of six stories. The city would have made an exception for what staff called a “signature building” with a unique design or for sites that already had tall trees. Source: Prairie Village Post

Generous donors help finance (and name) new Pratt pool

info2023-07-28T07:40:14-05:00July 27th, 2023|

It was hand shakes, rounds of applause and smiles all around when the blue tarp dropped and the names of Gary and Jean Cromer were revealed as the generous donors who helped finance (and name) the new swimming pool on July 22 in Pratt. The Cromer’s donated $6M to ensure summer water fun and enjoyment for the citizens, especially youth, of Pratt for years to come. Their generosity was celebrated Saturday, and while many in attendance were anxious to get into the water, perhaps none were as eager as young Eli Lee, who had been at the pool complex since 9:30 a.m., [...]

City of Lawrence considering changing how parking tickets are handled

info2023-07-28T07:40:10-05:00July 27th, 2023|

Currently, Lawrence Municipal Court may issue arrest warrants for unpaid parking tickets. That could change as the City of Lawrence is considering moving to a new process to handle parking violations. The city is also considering other options for habitual violators, including demobilization of vehicles. Under the proposed changes, people would no longer be required to show up to court to appeal citations or for notices to appear, according to the city’s website about the project. Source: The Lawrence Times

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $7.9M in Community Development Grants

info2023-07-26T12:01:24-05:00July 26th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that 24 communities in rural counties throughout the state will receive a share of nearly $7.9 million in federal grants to assist with community development projects. ... The $7,897,922 will be matched with local funding, allowing more than $16.9 million to be available. The CDBG funds are one of the Department of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s smaller, predominantly rural communities. To view the complete list of awardees, click here. For assistance applying for, or administering, grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Seaboard Foods proposes two hog farms in Ford County

info2023-07-26T09:42:32-05:00July 26th, 2023|

Seaboard Foods pitched a plan to the Ford County Commissioners at its July 17 meeting to purchase land northeast of Bucklin to raise as many as 2,500 hogs. Commissioners Ken Snook and Shawn Tasset were present. Both sites would have two buildings hogs. Seaboard representative Jennifer Charno Nelson said the corporation was interested in developing a total of four buildings on two sites in that southeast corner of the county. Snook said he was concerned with the odor and a fact Nelson shared that each hog would need to consume five gallons of water every day. “We have a problem with water here, before my life [...]

NFMA releases best practices for EPA’s SRF program

info2023-07-26T09:40:24-05:00July 26th, 2023|

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has released best practices on Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, its first on the subject, which provides a roadmap for state and local governments as these investments become more essential to improving the infrastructure and quality of life around the country. "SRFs were selected because they have truly become a critical financing vehicle for improving the quality of our nation's water infrastructure and public health," said Angela Kukoda, disclosure committee chair at NFMA. Both the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, created in 1987 and 1996, [...]

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