News – Page 79 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Final Topeka police chief candidates interact with community during meet and greet

info2024-11-08T09:29:38-06:00November 8th, 2024|

A pool that started with 18 applicants is now down to two candidates: Russell Klumpp and Chris Vallejo. Community members had the chance to interact with both of them at a meet and greet at Hotel Topeka on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Major Klumpp is a lifelong Topekan and has been with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) for nearly 30 years. 16 of those years have come at the command level. With an understanding of the Topeka community, he says community relations is always the top priority. And then there’s Chris Vallejo. Although he’s not from Topeka, or the Sunflower State for [...]

Voters reject sales tax; elect Brocker

info2024-11-08T09:26:38-06:00November 8th, 2024|

On Election Day, Allen County picked a new county commissioner and voted down a half-cent sales tax that would have shifted the burden of funding EMS away from property taxes. A commissioner who proposed the sales tax said the county could try again. Source: The Iola Register

Provisional Ballots Could Change Marshall County Sales Tax Vote | Unofficial Marshall County Election Results

info2024-11-08T09:25:42-06:00November 8th, 2024|

In a race too close to call, extension of a half-cent sales tax in Marshall County, toward operations at Community Memorial Healthcare trails on election night by just eight votes, 2,325 no, and 2,317 yes. There are 164 provisional ballots to be counted, and mail in ballots postmarked today could also affect the eventual outcome. As it stands with all 30 precincts reporting in Marshall County, the hospital sales tax trails by eight votes with 4,642 counted. It will likely come down to a canvas of ballots by county commissioners to decide the final total. Source: The Sunflower State Radio Network

Sales tax renewed; benefits to Great Bend going forward

info2024-11-08T07:58:32-06:00November 8th, 2024|

With more than 70% of the vote Tuesday in favor of the initiative, Great Bend citizens decided to renew the half-cent sales tax that assists with capital improvements, economic development and property tax reduction. There were 3,371 "yes" votes to renew the tax compared to 1,418 "no" votes. Source: Great Bend Post

Russell passes sales tax to help fund R9 water project

info2024-11-08T07:56:43-06:00November 8th, 2024|

Russell residents on Tuesday approved a 3/4-cent city sales tax that will support water infrastructure, including expenses related to the R9 Ranch water project. The ballot measure passed with 1,196 yes votes to 651 no votes—64.75% to 35.25%. Source: Hays Post

Douglas County commissioners approve measures to maximize the impact of unspent ARPA funds

info2024-11-08T07:55:24-06:00November 8th, 2024|

Douglas County commissioners learned on Wednesday that only around 72% of the federal funding they distributed through the American Rescue Plan Act has been utilized, and they approved measures to maximize the money’s impact before the end-of-the-year deadline to spend it. In July 2022, the county awarded $23,747,378 in ARPA funding — which is emergency funding to help state and local governments respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic — to support 51 projects for internal and external partners. Source: LJWorld

Lawrence City Commission set to vote on sweeping Land Development Code next week

info2024-11-08T07:53:55-06:00November 8th, 2024|

Lawrence city commissioners at their meeting Tuesday will consider adopting a new Land Development Code for the city, which would govern how developments in the city are built, from lot sizes to parking requirements. The project to update the city’s code, which has not been updated since 2006, started in 2022 and aims to establish a simpler and more consistent set of development procedures and help the city better achieve goals in its Plan 2040 strategic plan — including building more density in housing and affordable housing. Source: LJWorld

Municipal Bond Trends for November 6, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-11-07T10:34:33-06:00November 7th, 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.

Falling Rates, Rising Tax Risk Give Some Shine to Muni Bonds

info2024-11-06T11:01:46-06:00November 6th, 2024|

Municipal bond issuance in the U.S. is heating up as local governments ramp up borrowing and investors gobble up the low-risk securities. ... local governments have needed to borrow more as the massive federal stimulus received during the pandemic wears off. Issuances also are increasing in size, as the cost of projects become more expensive due to rising prices for materials, labor and services. Meanwhile, as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, yield-seeking investors have more reason to park their cash in munis. Source: WSJ.com: Markets

Ballot questions pass in Barton and Pawnee Counties

info2024-11-06T11:00:39-06:00November 6th, 2024|

Voters in Great Bend, Ellinwood, and Pawnee County all had special election questions on their ballots Tuesday and all three passed. Great Bend’s half-cent sales tax will continue, Ellinwood USD 355’s bond issue was approved, and in Pawnee County, establishments will be able to sell liquor by the drink without a minimum food sales requirement. Source: Great Bend Tribune