News – Page 1218 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

White House forms coalition with local governments to pursue building performance policies

info2022-01-25T01:03:01-06:00January 25th, 2022|

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the launch of a Building Performance Standards Coalition, a partnership between more than 30 city and county governments along with the states of Colorado and Washington. The announcement came during the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual winter meeting. The administration describes the effort as a "first-of-its-kind partnership" committed to "cleaner, healthier, and more affordable buildings," and said participating governments cover nearly 20% of the country’s building footprint. The ultimate goal is to advance legislation or regulation in each of those jurisdictions by April 22, 2024. Source: Smart Cities Dive - Latest News

Rising Interest Rates Hit Municipal-Bonds Market

info2022-01-24T07:25:42-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Municipal bonds are off to their worst start since 2011. The early-year bond rout has dragged returns on the S&P Municipal Bond Index to minus 1.1% through Jan. 20, counting price changes and interest payments. The loss is an early sign that rising interest rates could make 2022 rockier than last year, when federal stimulus and elevated demand from homebound savers led to record low volatility and historically high prices. Now investors are eyeing those prices more warily. Muni bond mutual and exchange-traded funds took in a net $830 million through Jan. 19, compared with $6.1 billion last year ... Source: [...]

Smart meters allow for intermittent utility disruption on delinquent accounts

info2022-01-24T07:24:15-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Although municipal utilities – such as Gardner – are not subject to the Kansas Cold Weather rule, the city tries to work with those customers who are behind on their bills during the winter months. “We are working closely with customers to get them into contact with the agencies that offer assistance to help them with the hardships brought on by the COVID 19 Pandemic,” said Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo, public information officer. Although the Kansas governor suspended late fees and penalties during the pandemic, that order was lifted in Oct. 2021. At the end of the pandemic order, 1518 customers were delinquent, [...]

KCC Announces Program to Help Low Income Households With Internet Costs

info2022-01-24T01:51:07-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The Emergency Broadband Benefit, a federal program that helped almost 9 million low income Americans afford internet service in 2021, ended on December 31st. The Kansas Corporation Commission wants Kansans to know that a new $14.2 billion federal program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), is available to fill the gap. With higher income maximums, the ACP could help even more families afford internet access for work, school, and health care. Current Emergency Broadband Benefit participants have until March 1 to contact their internet provider and switch over to the new plan with no interruption of service. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Wichita Launches PROPEL Loan Program for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

info2022-01-24T07:19:11-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The City of Wichita announced the second round of the PROPEL (Providing Resources & Opportunities for Proprietors, Entrepreneurs & Lenders) Small Business Loan Fund today. The low-interest, short-term revolving loan program was developed to make access to capital more readily available to minority-owned and women-owned firms and businesses located in Wichita City Council District 1. Funding of $220,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money has been allocated to the revolving loan fund, along with a generous contribution from INTRUST Bank, to enable the PROPEL fund to extend participation to business owners throughout Wichita on an ongoing basis. The next round [...]

Chase County employees to see wage increases this year

info2022-01-24T07:19:21-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Some Chase County employees will see an increase in pay this year after commissioners approved a 5% increase for elected and appointed personnel, as well as increases in some department budgets. The increase was approved during a lengthy special meeting held Tuesday morning at the courthouse. Jail administrator Larry Sigler came to discuss detention center salaries and wages. He told commissioners that new hires in security will come in at a rate of $18.50 per hour. Tenured employees will move to $19 per hour. Sigler also asked commissioners for “additional compensation” for salaried employees that are on guard duty. Source: Emporia [...]

De Soto approves TIF district for majority of Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant land

info2022-01-24T07:19:28-06:00January 24th, 2022|

De Soto’s City Council unanimously approved a 5,877-acre tax increment financing district to help redevelop a portion of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. It also voted Thursday evening to re-annex 131.4 acres adjacent to, but outside the TIF district. Earlier this month, officials effectively dropped that land from an initial 6,376-acre annexation after learning it was titled to the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. But the district's board of commissioners consented to the annexation Tuesday, resolving the procedural snarl. Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Legislative auditors skeptical Prairiefire development can pay off $64.8M in bond debt

info2022-01-24T07:19:51-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The Overland Park retail, office, hotel and residential development attached to the Prairiefire museum struggles to attract out-of-state tourists and could default on $64.8 million in bond debt issued through a state economic development program under scrutiny by the Legislature. Auditors with the Legislature said their analysis of the PrairieFire project built with capital raised through issuance in 2012 of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, indicated the project wasn’t generating enough sales tax revenue to repay debts in the required 20-year period. Originally, $64.9 million in bonds were issued for the project. Debt remaining to be paid: $64.8 million. [...]

Wyandotte County residents turn out in support of proposal to establish a public defender’s office

info2022-01-24T01:42:48-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The Kansas State Board of Public Indigents’ Services held a public hearing Saturday at Kansas City, Kansas Community College on a proposal to establish a public defender’s office in Wyandotte County which currently does not have one. The hearing was attended by close to 200 community members. In her Governor’s Commission for Racial Equity and Justice Initial Report, Gov. Laura Kelly recommends that counties with more than 100,000 residents have a public defender’s office. Wyandotte County has more than 165,000 residents. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree told the board he thinks a public defender’s office is necessary. “I was a [...]

Northeast USD 246 working outside the box to fill staff vacancies due to COVID

info2022-01-24T07:21:07-06:00January 24th, 2022|

As Omicron surges and schools close due to staffing shortages, new plans are needed to keep kids in class. We paid a visit to one local district working outside the box to fill open positions. Elementary Principal Kerstin Womble says Northeast USD 246 has been struggling with staffing issues like every other district in our area. “It’s been a little difficult for us as a small town because we share subs with every district in the area.” But you wouldn’t know it if you paid a visit to one of their schools, like we did. That’s because, everyone is stepping up. [...]