info2023-01-03T22:21:01-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
Kansans looking to save a bit more money in the new year are in luck. The first phase of the state’s move to eliminate taxes on food went into effect on Jan. 1, reducing the state’s food tax to 4% instead of 6.5%. The state food tax rate will continue to go down year after year until 2025, when it will reach zero. The Kansas Legislature passed this plan in April. Source: KC Star Local News
info2023-01-04T11:15:02-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced $50 million will fund a second round of projects under the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) grant program. BASE 2.0 will continue addressing infrastructure and economic development needs that were delayed or slowed due to COVID-19 in an effort to expand the state’s base of businesses and residents. The additional funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council in December. Previous applicants that were not funded in round one will be considered for BASE 2.0 and do not need to reapply unless [...]
info2023-01-03T22:02:27-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
A state appeals court has ruled that a citizen petition to save the Century II Convention Center was proper and complete, but it was administrative in nature and therefore invalid. The group Save Century II circulated the petitions to prevent the City Council from taking action to demolish Century II or the former downtown library building nearby. The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled that the taxpayers of Wichita did not have the fiscal skills or knowledge to oversee public buildings, but the petition had an impact by pushing the City Council to create a policy for a non-binding advisory vote before [...]
info2023-01-03T21:55:14-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
You should have noticed a slightly lower food bill at grocery stores across Kansas this week. As part of legislative action last year, the state sales tax on food went from 6.5 percent to 4 percent Sunday. By itself, that reduction could save people $2.50 in taxes on $100 worth of groceries. The tax will drop to 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2024, before being totally eliminated at the start of 2025. Residents need to check their receipts because some retailers have struggled to make the changeover earlier this week. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
info2023-01-03T21:52:28-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
A new program hopes to make it easier for people to purchase a home in rural communities in Kansas. The Home Loan Guarantee for Rural Kansas is a new initiative from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The program is designed to help existing and prospective homeowners in rural counties finance home loans for land and building purchases, renovations, or new construction costs. The goal of the program is to close the "appraisal gap." That is the gap where the costs of new construction or renovation far exceed the appraised value of the property, even after the work is completed. Source: KSN-TV
info2023-01-04T11:18:04-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
Republican Ed Roitz lives in central Overland Park, right in the middle of that state’s most populous, suburban county. He ran to represent his affluent Johnson County neighbors in the Kansas House this fall, focusing on the tried-and-true conservative policy of cutting taxes. But when he met voters on their doorsteps, he came face-to-face with a changing electorate. One voter, for instance, told him she likes paying taxes. Source: Prairie Village Post
info2023-01-03T21:45:06-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
A popular recycling spot for many will no longer be available to the public. On Tuesday, the Department of Solid Waste announced that they will remove all public recycling bins in the county. This decision was made to help save the county some money, but also after it noticed continuous illegal dumping at the sites. The county recommends people use their personal recycle bins in the meantime. Source: KSNT 27 News
info2023-01-04T11:18:34-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
The city of Derby is currently conducting a community survey regarding future use of the Derby Difference sales tax. The sales tax has been used in the past to help fund construction of Rock River Rapids, Decarsky Park (phase one), operations of Derby Fire and Rescue and more. A select random group of Derby residents will receive a survey in the mail in the month of January. A link will also go out inviting all community members to complete the survey online. Source: Derby Informer | News
info2023-01-04T11:18:58-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
During their first meeting of the new year, Bourbon County Commissioners voted in favor of a hiring freeze for the county. During the commission comments portion of the meeting, Commissioner Clifton Beth said the county’s revenues are not keeping up with rising costs. Source: Fort Scott Tribune
info2023-01-03T10:40:07-06:00January 3rd, 2023|
School leaders in Dodge City USD 443 were flummoxed. For years, the district had maintained respectable graduation rates — great, even, for a district with high rates of at-risk and low-income students. With graduation percentages in the mid to upper 80s, Dodge City USD 443 most years trailed the average statewide graduation rate, but not by much. What didn’t make sense, though, at least not initially, was the dismal rate at which students went on to pursue any kind of education or training after high school, a measure called post-secondary effectiveness that the Kansas State Department of Education started tracking in [...]
