News – Page 625 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

At many banks, pandemic-era bond purchases are still tugging at profits

info2023-09-13T14:40:29-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Banks' pandemic-era bond investments are still hampering some lenders, dragging down the profitability of those that are saddled with low-yielding portfolios for months or even years to come. The concerns are far less severe than they were in March and April, when the failure of Silicon Valley Bank brought scrutiny of surviving banks whose large bond portfolios were also underwater. The question now is less about whether more banks are at risk of failing — and more about how much their profitability will be squeezed. The pressures aren't universal since some banks held off on putting much cash into bonds during [...]

Wichita city council approves changes to short term rental rules

info2023-09-13T09:30:30-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Inside the Wichita City Council chambers on Tuesday, Kelli Reid is sitting and listening to the council debate an issue that will impact her directly. They're talking about new rules and regulations regarding short term rental properties. “When we first started out in 2018, there were there really was no policy per se," Reid said about getting her Airbnb's up and going. She added that she went "through the process of making phone calls to the city and to the county and to the state to find out how we go about doing this here in Kansas. It was cumbersome.” The [...]

Overland Park will require some new streets to be paved with concrete

info2023-09-13T09:27:15-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Starting at the end of this year, Overland Park will require some new streets to be built with concrete instead of the traditional asphalt mix. The move is expected to cut down on the disturbance from regular street maintenance on these new roads and, overtime, reduce the city’s reliance on chip seal as a road resurfacing tool. Overland Park expects to eliminate about 220 lane miles from the future list of candidates for chip seal over the next 15 to 20 years. On Monday, the Overland Park City Council unanimously accepted the city staff’s plan to begin paving all new residential and [...]

Douglas County Commission to consider policy to pay people with lived experience

info2023-09-13T09:26:02-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will consider a new policy that would allow the county to pay people who have lived experience for their input on community issues and initiatives. County staff members want to seek input from people who are experiencing homelessness, in particular, and the new policy is in hopes of addressing barriers that prevent people from participating in listening sessions and work group meetings. Source: The Lawrence Times

Municipal Bond Trends for September 12, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-09-13T07:32:21-05:00September 13th, 2023|

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.

Kansas schools brace for utility rate increases

info2023-09-12T10:24:27-05:00September 12th, 2023|

It's been five years since energy provider Evergy requested a rate increase for customers in the Wichita area. This year, the company has asked the Kansas Corporation Commission for a residential rate of just less than 10%. But the base rate increase for school customers starts at 25%. An Evergy spokesperson tells KSN this week the net increase for schools in rates could be between 11-12%. Some schools say they have budgeted for energy increases, but they are closely watching to see what gets approved by the KCC. Source: KSN-TV

Great American Market draws crowds to downtown Emporia

info2023-09-12T10:11:43-05:00September 12th, 2023|

With nearly 180 vendors this year, Commercial Street was lined with goodies from the 600 - 1100 blocks. Visitors found everything from plants and handcrafted jewelry to collectibles and antiques, resin art, crochet and knitted items, jams and jellies, food trucks and more. Thousands of people turned out for the Great American Market, as hundreds of vendors drew crowds of visitors to downtown Emporia Saturday for a day of shopping. Source: Emporia Gazette

USD 216 Deerfield cancels school for second day due to storm damage

info2023-09-12T10:10:15-05:00September 12th, 2023|

A school in western Kansas has canceled class for the second day in a row due to storm damage on Sunday, the district says. According to a release, USD 216 Deerfield will not have school on Tuesday as they work to clear storm damage and, "make the school safe for staff and students." School was also canceled on Monday due to the damage. It is currently unknown when classes will resume. Source: KAKE - News

Wichita water customers urged to get backflow tested, city threatens disconnections

info2023-09-12T10:08:37-05:00September 12th, 2023|

In a September 5 news release, the City of Wichita states that residents with irrigation systems connected to the city's water system are required to annually have their backflow tested. The due date for the annual backflow certification was May 30, and the city says multiple notices have gone out to accounts that have been non-compliant. Source: KAKE - News

USDA invests nearly $50 million into water infrastructure in rural Kansas

info2023-09-12T10:06:28-05:00September 12th, 2023|

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing more than $49 million for water and wastewater infrastructure repairs and upgrades in four towns and one county in rural Kansas. “Our rural communities in Kansas are in desperate need of investment and infrastructure. Water and sewer is no exception to that,” said Christy Davis, the state director of USDA Rural Development for Kansas. The cities of Girard, Humboldt, Mankato and Perry, as well as Neosho County will receive the funding. The money comes from the USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. Source: KCUR News