info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

State-ordered sales tax collection refunds cut into Hutchinson, Reno County May receipts

info2022-05-25T07:21:31-05:00May 25th, 2022|

State Revenue officials say sales tax refunds authorized by the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Audit Division required all municipalities in Reno County to take a hit in sales tax receipts for May. Additional details on those refunds, including how much they amounted to, what period they were from and how many businesses were involved, were not available. It was also unclear if the refunds related specifically to compensating use taxes or if that’s just how the state decided to tap the funds. Either way, the result was a 91% drop in compensating use tax receipts going to the county compared to [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for May 24, 2022

info2022-05-25T07:15:38-05:00May 25th, 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.

Fed’s George says inflation will guide moves after rates hit 2%

info2022-05-25T00:51:55-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said she expects the central bank to raise interest rates to 2% by August, with the further course of tightening being guided by how surging inflation cools off. “Fed policymakers have emphasized a commitment to act expeditiously to restore price stability, and I expect that further rate increases could put the federal funds rate in the neighborhood of 2% by August,” George said Monday night in prepared remarks to the bank’s agriculture symposium. “Evidence that inflation is clearly decelerating will inform judgments about further tightening.” The Fed raised interest rates by 50 [...]

Downtown Atchison to Welcome Purveyor this Summer

info2022-05-25T00:50:05-05:00May 25th, 2022|

The City of Atchison’s E-Community Program is pleased to announce a new loan to Purveyor. Purveyor, a modern-day general store offering mindful goods made by responsible artisans from all over the globe, is to be located at 715 Commercial Street in downtown Atchison. The $40,000 in E-Community Loan proceeds will be coupled with financing from Exchange Bank and Trust to fund the new retail store. “Purveyor is a boutique for the mindful tastemaker,” said Ashley Gill, co-owner. “The curated store will have something for everyone and gifts for all occasions and ages. From home goods to apothecary, pet, gourmet foods, stationery, [...]

Municipal bond rates dropped Tuesday as demand for safe-haven assets intensified

info2022-05-25T07:10:58-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Municipals and U.S. Treasuries rallied hard Tuesday as demand for safe-haven assets intensified, while equities ended mixed. Triple-A benchmarks were bumped eight to 10 basis points, depending on the scale, while USTs saw double-digit bumps seven years and in. Source: The Bond Buyer

Threats made against Wichita mayor, city council member

info2022-05-25T00:44:43-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Wichita police are investigating a threat that was made to Mayor Brandon Whipple, City Council member Brandon Johnson and Interim Police Chief Lem Moore. The threat was received Monday morning through an anonymous internet platform, and a Wichita police officer was made aware of the threat. Police said the message threatened Mayor Whipple and Council Member Johnson if they appoint a new police chief. A similar message was received the previous week, directed at Interim Police Chief Lem Moore, telling him to leave Wichita. Police said Whipple, Johnson and Chief Moore were made aware of the threats immediately. Detectives are looking [...]

Unified Government warns investors of possible financial risk from upcoming McIntyre trial

info2022-05-25T00:42:13-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, have acknowledged that an ongoing federal grand jury investigation and a related civil lawsuit against it alleging widespread police corruption could result in significant financial problems. In a prospectus to prospective municipal bond investors, the Unified Government said that an unfavorable outcome in a lawsuit filed by a former Kansas City, Kansas, resident who was wrongfully convicted of a double-homicide in 1994 could have a “material adverse effect” on the Unified Government’s finances and operations. The trial of the lawsuit brought by Lamonte McIntyre, who was exonerated and freed [...]

Wichita youth can ride city buses for free this summer

info2022-05-25T07:12:08-05:00May 25th, 2022|

As part of the City of Wichita's RIDE summer program, anyone 18 and younger are being offered free and unlimited transit rides on all regular bus routes and paratransit services from May 26 through August 31. All they have to do is show their 2021-2022 school year student ID. Any youth in Wichita without a student ID can get one for free by going to the downtown Transit Center, 214 S. Topeka. ... Age or student verification is required to obtain a youth ID. Source: KSN-TV

Rural broadband getting $10 million boost in Kansas

info2022-05-25T00:37:47-05:00May 25th, 2022|

A broadband boost has been a long time coming for many in rural Kansas. "We temper our internet usage. We don't need all our kids streaming at the same time," said rural Harper resident Leslie Gerber. "But I think in the rural communities, we struggle with getting good internet service and being able to connect with people. We also learn to just manage with what we have." Gerber is intrigued by the possibility of faster internet for her website. Years ago, she and her husband put in a berry patch. Now they own and operate Sweet Berries & Brambles outside their [...]

Abilene has been named a best historic small town finalist

info2022-05-25T07:13:02-05:00May 25th, 2022|

The Kansas town of Abilene is a finalist for a nationwide poll to determine the best historic small town in the U.S. The poll, hosted by USA Today's 2022 Readers' Choice, will be open until Monday, June 6 at 10:59 a.m. Abilene has been in the running for being named best historic small town for four years in a row according to Abilene's Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, Julie Roller-Weeks. "Thank you to the tourism attractions, businesses, residents, employees, volunteers, and leaders who help make Abilene the best historic small town,” Roller-Weeks said. “Receiving this recognition four years in a row [...]

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