News – Page 1888 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sales tax on Netflix? State budget proposal could add to your bill

info2020-01-17T07:05:18-06:00January 17th, 2020|

The state budget presented to lawmakers by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly comes with a recommendation to add a sales tax on online services where you can watch your favorite movies, play your favorite video games and listen to your favorite music. The tax on "all sales of digital property and subscription services," includes music and video games you download and streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Amazon Prime, etc... The added sales tax to "all sales of digital property" would take effect July 1, the proposed budget says. (Read more: KWCH News)

Council members and activists react to proposed Riverfront plan without Century II

info2020-01-17T07:05:05-06:00January 17th, 2020|

The final plans for the Arkansas riverfront are out and they do not include century two. Tuesday night the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition unveiled its vision for the riverfront. Some are upset it gets rid of the iconic round blue roof building in downtown. A variety of Wichita city council members say they have been receiving a number of calls in regards to the proposal. Council member, Brandon Johnson say if he had to vote today he would be in favor of the master plan. “Our performing arts community and city deserve to have world class performing arts. Our citizens [...]

After current tech showed reliability issues, Mission moves to replace police body cameras

info2020-01-17T07:04:15-06:00January 17th, 2020|

The Mission city council on Wednesday approved the expenditure of just over $175,000 to replace the police department’s aging in-car video and body camera equipment. A loss of man hours and equipment failure led the department to look for a replacement system, according to city documents. As previously reported, the body cameras Mission police officers have been using aren’t “high quality” and weren’t functional in some situations. Police Chief Ben Hadley had said the current body cameras, which are now about six or seven years old, would fall off in the middle of a sprint or physical confrontation. (Read more: Prairie [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 16, 2020

info2020-04-16T08:06:48-05:00January 17th, 2020|

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 Advisors.

Hesston’s wastewater operator thrives in isolation at wastewater plant

info2020-01-17T07:09:08-06:00January 17th, 2020|

Kyle Headrick likes being left all alone to oversee operations of Hesston’s wastewater treatment plant. “I’m not a huge people person, so I thought I would enjoy it out here,” he said. Kirk Matz asked Headrick if he was interested in working for the city in early 1989. The former master plumber said he was if he could get a job at the wastewater treatment plant after Bill Nitzsche retired. After about seven years of working for the water department, Headrick switched departments. Headrick spends his days keeping track of effluent, bacteria levels and inflows and dewatering sludge, among other chores. [...]

Jayhawk Wind Farm Project causing concerns in Bourbon County

info2020-01-16T20:05:41-06:00January 16th, 2020|

Tensions heighten with Bourbon County residents as they go before commissioners to voice their concern with the Jayhawk Wind Farm Project. This afternoon, commissioners held a forum along with representatives from Jayhawk Wind to hear how the turbines could affect the community. Kim Simons lives in the county and isn’t happy about the possibility of a turbine being on her property. She says she’s afraid the turbines won’t benefit those whose land they’re on. And, she adds she doesn’t want her tax dollars going to something that might not benefit the community. (Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Boeing 737 Max production halt in Wichita ‘was not our fault,’ county commissioner says

info2020-01-16T20:01:17-06:00January 16th, 2020|

The new chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission said the economic issues in Wichita from the suspension of the Boeing 737 Max are “not our fault,” adding that he expects a long-term recovery “will be right around the corner.” Pete Meitzner, who was chosen as the commission chairman on Wednesday, told reporters at a news conference that the county can “get through” mass layoffs at the largest employer in the state’s largest city. ”This is not good news, but we have experienced real economic downturn that resulted in far more numbers of people losing their jobs,” Meitzner said. “This was not [...]

Bagwell wants city to ease approach toward property owners

info2020-01-16T19:53:21-06:00January 16th, 2020|

Incoming Hutchinson City Councilmember Sara Bagwell will take office next week, and her message to the Hutchinson Housing Commission resonated with some members. On Wednesday afternoon, Bagwell urged a change in the city’s approach toward owners of properties not compliant with city code. After she and incoming City Councilmember Steve Garza left the commission session and after the commission dealt with its regular meeting agenda, commissioners returned to the earlier discussion. Housing Commissioner Aubrey Patterson agreed with changing the tone and look of the official letter to property owners to make it friendlier and less threatening, but doesn’t want to change [...]

$1 billion plan replaces Century II, transforms Wichita’s downtown riverfront

info2020-01-16T07:50:53-06:00January 16th, 2020|

The future of downtown Wichita's Riverfront and how much that future will cost comes into focus. Tuesday night, the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition's design team revealed a plan that includes a new performing arts and convention center and tears down Century II. The design team expects the project for to cost just north of $1 billion (somewhere between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion). With the expected cost, the team revealed where this cost will be covered. (Read more: KWCH News)

Lindsborg pursues RHID to jumpstart new housing market

info2020-01-16T07:49:47-06:00January 16th, 2020|

The City of Lindsborg is in the process of establishing a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) for a new housing development called Stockholm Estates that will break ground this spring. The Stockholm Estates subdivision, with 150 planned lots, will be located on the east side of Lindsborg to the west of Elmwood Cemetery between Wells Fargo Rd and E. Saline St. RHIDs allow cities of less than 60,000 population to use tax dollars to reimburse developers for the cost of installing new infrastructure. These districts are eligible for residential uses only and can only be used for the addition of public [...]