News

A new year turns over a new page for the Towanda Public Library who welcomed a new director last month. The rural town of Towanda grappled with drama over the winter as residents filed complaints against the Towanda Public Library with claims of rude staff and minimal operating hours. During a heated City Council meeting, it was agreed upon by the residents’ demands that change needed to be made to ensure the library is inclusive, welcoming and open during times that residents are able to access it. In addition to the resignation and reappointing of the board’s president and a board [...]

A Senate bill seeks to prohibit conflicts of interests by banning local government officials from voting on major development projects in which they have a “substantial interest.” Senate Bill 66, introduced by Republican Sen. Mike Thompson of Shawnee, attempts to increase local-level transparency. Thompson, and other proponents, argue that local officials often vote on projects that would personally benefit them because they’re not required to recuse themselves. Supporters see the bill as increasing government transparency and constituents’ confidence, while opponents see the bill as overly broad with its definition of “substantial interest” and hypocritical, since the Legislature would not have to [...]

When former Harvey County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber announced his resignation in November, he still had an eye for working in government. Swartzendruber accepted the position of Finance Director for the City of Hesston, officially beginning back on Jan. 6. “In the preceding months, I had heard that there may be a future staff transition in the City of Hesston’s Administration department,” he said. “In turn, I started a conversation with City of Hesston and let them know that if a public finance position was available in the future, I would be interested.” Source: Harvey County Now

Members of a House committee on Monday scrutinized a Senate plan to expand the use of STAR bonds to redevelop struggling malls. The proposal is part of Senate Bill 197, which would extend the state’s STAR bonds program through 2028 with revisions that include the elimination of eminent domain authority and new requirements for recording visitor data. The Senate passed the bill 32-8 on Feb. 19, with eight Republicans opposed. Sen. Jeff Klemp, R-Lansing, testified before members of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee, where he revealed that he was responsible for adding the mall development provision to the bill. [...]

Property tax relief is something people are pushing for across the state. The legislature is considering putting new caps on property tax increases. How much you pay in property taxes depends on how much money your local taxing entities need for their budget. Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, and Wichita Public Schools are all examples of tax entities. The state is considering reform that would limit how much those property taxes can go up year over year. There are two bills to highlight here. Both roughly cap property tax at the previous year's levels plus inflation. Source: KSN-TV

Cowley College and the City of Arkansas City are teaming up for a Community Cleanup Day on April 5 from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers from across the community will join forces to beautify Arkansas City by removing debris, bundling branches, and assisting residents in need. Community members, student organizations, and Cowley College employees are encouraged to participate and join us in making a difference. Volunteers will gather at Wilson Park at 7:30 AM for assignments and return at noon to wrap up the event. Participants are asked to bring their own rakes and garden gloves to assist with cleanup efforts. [...]

A pair of electric-powered school buses, acquired by USD 257 through a $690,000 EPA grant, have been online since January. “Is it running?” USD 257 Transportation Director Aaron Cole says this is a frequent question when people first see the district’s new electric buses in action. “They are very quiet,” he said, compared to the traditional diesel models. Thanks to a $690,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USD 257 has adopted clean energy for its school transportation. The district used the funding to purchase two electric buses, along with a dual charging station. The grant was made possible by [...]

The Lawrence school district will make up snow days this year by tacking minutes onto the end of school days and adding a day and a half day to the end of the year. So far during the 2024-25 school year, the district has canceled nine full school days for inclement weather, and an additional day for Deerfield Elementary School last week because of a power outage. The Kansas State Department of Education forgives local districts the same number of inclement weather hours or days they build into their calendars and use. Source: The Lawrence Times

Lawrence school board members on Monday approved a contract with Jeanice Swift to serve as the permanent superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. Swift was named the district’s 10th superintendent last month, pending a formal contract. The negotiated contract, which runs from July 1 of this year through June 30, 2028, includes an annual salary of $235,000, with 2% raises each year “unless there are major (exceeding 0.5% projected annual revenue) reductions in local, state or federal revenues or an unforeseen financial crisis which adversely affects the funding of schools.” Source: The Lawrence Times

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.