News – Page 6 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

County commission discusses sales tax for hospital

info2024-12-13T09:15:37-06:00December 13th, 2024|

The Jackson County Commissioners said Monday that they would support Holton Community Hospital administrators and the board of directors if they wanted to pursue a special sales tax for the hospital. During Monday’s commission meeting, Carrie Lutz, HCH CEO, and Marilyn Watkins, a member of the HCH board of directors, learned that the commissioners were not planning to pursue an additional sales tax for the county to help offset property taxes. A special public meeting was held earlier this fall to discuss the possibility of increasing the county’s current sales tax rate to help offset a mill rate increase. Source: Holton [...]

Prairie Village poised to renew home grant programs with tweaks to who is eligible

info2024-12-13T09:14:42-06:00December 13th, 2024|

A few more Prairie Village homeowners could become eligible for the city’s property tax rebate and home improvement grant programs under changes the council is considering enacting for 2025. The set of three resident rebate programs in Prairie Village are up for renewal for next year. The Prairie Village City Council last week during a council committee of the whole session forwarded the renewal motions with some proposed changes to the full city council for final approval. The three programs include a property tax rebate program aimed at lower-income households, as well as two separate programs aimed at incentivizing homeowners to [...]

2 fire districts in southern Johnson County want to join forces — Here’s why

info2024-12-13T09:13:47-06:00December 13th, 2024|

The two fire districts serving the southern half of Johnson County may be consolidated in 2026 — a move county commissioners and fire district representatives say will make financial planning more efficient in the county’s fastest-growing area. In a joint meeting Tuesday, the commission, which oversees Fire District 2, met with the governing board of Fire District 1 and approved a resolution to combine their functions. It comes with a 60-day protest period and final action by the county commission in the second quarter of 2025. Source: Johnson County Post

As HaysMed loses doctors, concern about future grows

info2024-12-13T09:13:01-06:00December 13th, 2024|

Doctors are leaving HaysMed, the only level three trauma hospital in Kansas west of Hutchinson. The departures have been entwined with controversy. Two of the doctors leaving, Dr. Jerod Grove and Dr. Robert Rodriguez, filed suit over non-compete clauses in their contracts. Representatives with HaysMed said these departures are normal, and their staffing has been steady in the past year. I spoke with several patients of the doctors who filed suit, who say their departures are robbing them of quality care. Source: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County approves use of remaining COVID money

info2024-12-13T09:10:49-06:00December 13th, 2024|

On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners approved plans to finish spending federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) before the end of the year. ARPA was passed in March of 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act provided emergency grants, lending, and investment to help change the course of the pandemic and deliver relief to businesses and communities. The approximately $16 million Sedgwick County has left to spend will be used to reimburse costs within the sheriff’s office, wages, and overtime pay. Source: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County nonprofit aims to address day care woes

info2024-12-13T09:09:51-06:00December 13th, 2024|

There’s a push to bring a new type of child care to Sedgwick County. A nonprofit, oneCOMMUNITY, is aimed at working with employers to give more affordable child care to their workers. The executive director of the nonprofit, Brent Lewis, is the husband of Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez. The goal is to work with employers instead of parents to come up with day care solutions they say will help with employee retention and attendance. Source: KSN-TV

Olathe educators says district’s new cellphone rules have been ‘non-issue’

info2024-12-13T09:08:35-06:00December 13th, 2024|

Olathe Public Schools’ new cellphone policy is going well four months after its approval, three administrators said Thursday. Principals representing the elementary, middle and high school levels addressed the Olathe Board of Education at its last meeting of the semester Dec. 4, providing an update on the personal electronic device policy that was approved in August. “Overall, it’s really been a non-issue,” said Olathe Northwest High School Principal Chris Zuck. “It’s probably not the kids’ favorite policy that we’ve ever put in place, but the strengths — or maybe some of the successes — have included some more instructional time and [...]

City commission approves contract for extra solar energy

info2024-12-13T09:06:37-06:00December 13th, 2024|

The City of Holton gets its electric power from a variety of sources, and following action by the Holton City Commission, the city will add a solar energy source to its power portfolio, starting in 2027. Source: Holton Recorder

Governor Kelly Announces More than $8M Toward Closing the Digital Divide

info2024-12-13T09:05:36-06:00December 13th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that the Kansas Office of Broadband Development will begin accepting applications on Feb. 3, 2025, for funding from the National Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA) Digital Equity Capacity Grant program. There will be a total of $8.2 million available in funding. The program promotes partnerships to enhance digital opportunity efforts and expand workforce skills, education, and other resources. Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Riley County considers policy for incentivizing ‘affordable’ housing

info2024-12-13T09:03:55-06:00December 13th, 2024|

Riley County’s budget and planning committee on Monday presented a policy for incentives intended to entice developers build affordable housing. The committee members proposed Reinvestment Housing Incentive District policy. The RHID captures the increase in property taxes created by the development for up to 25 years. Brittany Phillips, county budget and finance officer, presented an overview of the RHID policy at Thursday’s county commission meeting. The county commissioners did not take votes on the matter Monday, as it was their first time looking at the proposal. Source: 1350 KMAN