News – Page 489 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Topeka shares 10-year plan for city-wide projects

info2024-03-08T11:47:59-06:00March 8th, 2024|

City of Topeka staff have created the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for city-wide projects over the next 10 years. According to a City of Topeka spokeswoman, city staff created the 2025-2034 CIP and first presented it to the governing body for consideration at Tuesday's Topeka City Council meeting. A CIP is a plan that helps make sure the city's annual operating budget, capital improvement budget and long-term financial projections line up with the city's strategic goals as well as its infrastructure needs. According to the city, a project can only be added to the CIP if it meets at least [...]

Baxter Springs FD to receive $1 million in federal appropriations bill

info2024-03-08T11:46:14-06:00March 8th, 2024|

The FY2024 Appropriations Package includes $1 million in funding for the Baxter Springs Fire Department. The federal House of Representatives passed the bill Wednesday. It includes a total of $2.6 million in federal funding for Kansas law enforcement and first responders. $1 million of which will help the Baxter Springs Fire Department construct a new fire station. "A surge of violent crime and deadly fentanyl have wreaked havoc on cities and communities across Kansas," said Rep. Jake LaTurner (R) of Kansas. "As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I promised law enforcement officers and first responders that I would fight to [...]

Governor Kelly Announces More than $930M in Highway Projects Added to IKE Development Pipeline

info2024-03-08T11:43:25-06:00March 8th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced the addition of 17 highway modernization and expansion projects – a total investment of $932 million – to the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program’s (IKE) Development Pipeline. IKE is the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion transportation program. The announcement clears the way for preliminary engineering work to begin on these projects, which are in every region of the state. “These highway projects tackle long-standing transportation needs across the state – improving safety, expanding economic development opportunities, and strengthening our communities,” Governor Kelly said. “My administration is committed to making short- and long-term infrastructure improvements [...]

New Kansas bill requests $40 million for homeless shelters, requires enforcement of camping laws

info2024-03-08T11:42:16-06:00March 8th, 2024|

A bill supported by Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita is requesting $40 million from the state for homeless shelter infrastructure, and it also requires localities to enforce ordinances on camping and vagrancy. The bill is born out of a months-long effort in Sedgwick County and Wichita to address homelessness. Last December, the city and county signed a letter to the governor seeking $50 million in a state grant program to “address local homelessness infrastructure.” Wichita needs at least $20 million of those dollars to help build a new one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness, with shelter and affordable housing units. The governor’s budget, released in January, included [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 7, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-03-08T09:49:36-06:00March 8th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

Johnson County vs. State Fire Marshall: Fire code applied to group homes

info2024-03-08T09:49:06-06:00March 8th, 2024|

Six years ago, the State Fire Marshal's office issued citations for fire code violations to two group homes for developmentally impaired adults operated under the auspices of a Johnson County social service agency. The Fire Marshal considered the homes to be care facilities requiring protective devices they didn't have. Johnson County pushed back. Since then, the dispute—pitting the Johnson County Board of Commissioners against State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen has evolved into a legal tussle having little to do with the particular citations and a great deal to do with how those group homes and about two dozen others like them [...]

Shawnee County found in violation of Kansas tax law. What it means.

info2024-03-08T08:33:22-06:00March 8th, 2024|

Shawnee County property owners could have part of last year's property taxes refunded back to them. The Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Kansas found the Shawnee County Commission had violated state law when setting the property tax rate last year and the county has been ordered to return the extra collected funds to county taxpayers. ... In 2021, the Kansas Legislature required local governments to follow a list of actions if their property tax rate exceeds what was generated in property tax dollars the year before. These actions include sending a notice that the governing body is considering [...]

Salina says Cozy Inn mural is commercial sign; Cozy Inn disagrees

info2024-03-08T07:39:43-06:00March 8th, 2024|

The City of Salina is hiring special legal counsel to help defend the lawsuit filed by Cozy Inn. ... Work on a mural with a hamburger on the north side of Cozy Inn in Salina was halted last year. The city of Salina is engaging with outside legal counsel after Cozy Inn filed a lawsuit against the city in regards to the mural. This comes less than a month after the restaurant filed a freedom of speech suit related to a mural it began having painted on the side of its building, which was halted after the city determined the mural [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 6, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-03-07T10:43:19-06:00March 7th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

Newton strengthens regulations against pollution

info2024-03-06T15:34:28-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Newton’s city commission approved an ordinance increasing fines for polluting stormwater drains. The increase is directed at companies. Suzanne Loomis, director of public works, proposed the change to the fines at the meeting on Feb. 27. Loomis said she proposed the change in hopes of getting businesses to think twice before polluting. “Corporations may think it’s easier to pay the fee,” Loomis said. “Now it’s more expensive to have to pay for it to get cleaned up.” Source: Harvey County Now