The Fed’s Game Plan on Interest-Rate Cuts Keeps Shifting
Investors widely expect a third-in-a-row rate cut this week. Officials are ready to slow—or even stop—lowering rates after that. Source: Wall Street Journal
How much will city charge to park in Old Town and downtown? Council to revisit plan
The city of Wichita plans to start charging visitors a dollar an hour to park in downtown Wichita and the Old Town entertainment district starting in summer 2025. Parking in those areas is free now, with a few exceptions. The Wichita City Council is expected to vote on whether to approve that plan for paid parking downtown at its meeting Tuesday. City Hall launched a public relations campaign in the summer after significant pushback to its announcement of the changes, but the new plan is essentially the same as the old plan. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Ark City mulling pet registration program
Arkansas City officials are considering animal registration requirements in response to concerns about loose pets and limited space at the Humane Society shelter. Loose and aggressive dogs roaming through neighborhoods has become a major problem. Some residents report that their own animals have been attacked and even killed. Others have been threatened by the animals. While the registration system won’t keep the animals from getting loose, it will help determine ownership and allow warnings or fines to be issued to the animals owners. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Rose Hill seeks Purple Star designation
At its school board meeting on Dec. 9, Rose Hill USD 394 officially started the process of becoming a Purple Star district. The school board approved a resolution in support of military-connected students and families to move forward with the district’s application (due Feb. 1, 2025). Through the Kansas State Department of Education, the Purple Star Designation is assigned to schools and districts that support military students. As part of its efforts, district staff is looking to enhance current measures in support of military families, with 136 military students (8.6%) currently enrolled in Rose Hill schools. Source: Derby Informer | Area
More than $2.5M spent on Salina utilities maintenance
In an interview with the Journal, Martha Tasker, director of utilities for Salina, said that much like a car or house, parts of the municipal water system must be maintained on a regular basis. The department budgets just more than $2.5 million each year to keep up this regularity, Tasker said. Source: Salina Journal
Local leaders don’t want other communities to make Lawrence’s homeless problem worse, and they’re asking the state to act
When a small community in Kansas has a homelessness problem, what’s stopping it from just dropping people off on the streets of a bigger city like Lawrence? ... The law the city is asking for would prohibit any organization that receives state funding — including local governments — from dropping homeless people from one county off in a different county... Source: LJWorld
On new e-bikes, Lawrence police officers approach their work from a different perspective
Because the bikes aren’t what people typically associate with police presence, Officer Steven Alvord said they often go unnoticed by motorists, which makes for a very different dynamic when officers are on patrol.... the bikes, he said, are “stealthy.” And that means motorists might commit traffic infractions, like running a stop sign, right in front of a bicycle officer without even thinking about it. Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for December 12, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Kansas broadband internet disparities persist despite huge investments
KHI developed an interactive digital divide dashboard to provide an overview of computer ownership and broadband availability in each of the state’s 105 counties. ... The challenge of responding to the state’s technological divide has been more difficult in rural communities due to insufficient infrastructure that elevated the cost of adding high-speed internet service. Source: The Lawrence Times
Topeka, Shawnee County leaders vote for downtown innovation center
Some Topeka and Shawnee County leaders are in favor of an innovation center coming to the downtown area. The Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) between Topeka and Shawnee County met Wednesday and approved Innovation Center 2.0. It’s a catalytic project to help meet the needs of the area’s growing innovation ecosystem. The center is a “bold step forward in developing downtown Topeka’s ASTRA Innovation District”, according to a news release from GO Topeka. The innovation center is being planned to be located at 220 SE 6th Street. Source: KSNT 27 News