Kansas Municipal News
Property tax rates vary wildly among states as some consider limits
Property taxes vary significantly across the U.S. with northeastern states imposing effective property tax rates ten times higher than in southern states. That comes from a Washington D.C. group that noted some states are exploring property tax caps. The Committee to Unleash Prosperity, which advocates for free trade and limited government spending, found that the average single-family-home property tax in New Jersey hit $9,500 in 2022. That compares with the average of $928 in West Virginia and $1,022 in Alabama, according to a report from the group.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Manhattan City Commission wants more businesses to keep property tax in check
During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners discussed the city government’s five-year strategic plan progress. Local officials said there is an “intolerance” toward property tax increases, and that won’t go away any time soon. “With these assessments going up like they did, I thought we did a good job cutting a million dollars of revenue out of property tax,” commissioner Wynn Butler said. “But the folks out there don’t appreciate that because their taxes are still going up even though we lowered the mill levy. They’re still sending us notes saying, ‘You guys gotta do something about fighting this,’ but I also agree that they don’t want to see any services cut.” One way to combat higher property tax rates is bringing in more property revenue from business property, Mayor Mark Hatesohl said. “The solution for lower tax rates is more property being taxed instead of less property being taxed more,” Hatesohl said. “That’s why we’ve got to get a big business, more people and more sales tax.”
Source: themercury.com
Wakefield to honor POWs, MIAs
Because of its efforts in recognizing, remembering and honoring the service and sacrifices of former prisoners of war, missing in action, and their families, the City of Wakefield has been officially proclaimed a POW-MIA City by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum project, located in the Historic District of Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis. The official unveiling of the Wakefield’s POW-MIA City proclamation and POW-MIA City sign will take place on Aug. 26 as part of the town’s annual birthday bash.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com
National law enforcement association recognizes Franklin County Sheriff as Sheriff of the Year
A national law enforcement organization has honored Franklin County Sheriff Jeffrey Richards for dedication not only to his profession, but to the community he has sworn to serve and protect. Richards was recognized as the recipient of the 2023 Sheriff of the Year Award by the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association. The organization honored Richards for his dedication to his community and significant contributions to the improvement of small, rural ad tribal law enforcement across the nation. He was presented with the award during the group’s annual conference Aug. 1. With more than 30 years of service in law enforcement, Richards has exemplified commitment to public safety and community welfare, officials said. Richards’ law-enforcement journey began as a reserve/ part-time deputy with the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office. He followed that up by serving as a law-enforcement supervisor in the United States Air Force. He later joined the Overland Park Police Department. Since April 2013, Richards has served as the Franklin County Sheriff, bringing his experience and passion to the role.
Source: Ottawa Herald
Sky is the limit for quality of life projects in Great Bend
The November 2021 General Election results saw 1,067 Great Bend citizens vote in favor of a .15% quality of life sales tax increase. The sales tax question passed with nearly 55% of the vote, and now City of Great Bend officials are going through a master plan of ideas to enhance the community. Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns said there are big dreams of what can be created with the sales tax in the future if enough money is set aside including community centers, indoor walking track and an indoor pool.
Source: Great Bend Post
Homeschool outside the home: Wildfire Education opens in Victoria
Homeschooling remains a popular choice for millions of American parents each year, however, for some, the choice to oversee a child’s education at home is not feasible. One Victoria woman believes she has a solution that gives students the flexibility needed to achieve their goals, provides support and instruction to students looking for the benefits of homeschooling, and takes the educational burden off of parents. Wildfire Education is essentially a homeschooling service, where kids can come and do their online schoolwork instead of going to school, said owner Jacy Klaus.
Source: Hays Post
Municipal Bond Trends for August 8, 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.
Wichita works to strengthen licensing ordinances for bars, nightclubs
The City of Wichita recommended changes to the city’s entertainment establishment, cereal malt beverage (CMB), drinking establishment, and private club and tobacco licensing ordinances on Tuesday. The discussion comes a month after 11 people were injured in a mass shooting at City Nightz nightclub in Old Town. The recommendations to the Wichita City Council focused on the inconsistent processes to suspend or revoke such licenses. The city said current policies are inconsistent on grounds for a suspension, who can issue the suspension and for how long. For example, not all ordinances allow for an immediate suspension of an establishment if there’s a credible threat of violence. The new ordinance would require all bars and clubs in the city to have a safety plan. Currently, the requirement only applies to bars in Old Town.
Source: KWCH
Lawrence City Commission does not reach consensus on proposed changes to public comment
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday could not come to a decision on how to change general public comment procedures and, therefore, opted to make no change. Mayor Lisa Larsen had asked her fellow commissioners on Aug. 1 whether they would like to again discuss making changes to public comment procedures. She proposed the commission move its general public comment to the end of meetings; only hold general public comment on the first Tuesday of the month; and designate a specific area in City Hall where the public can record video during meetings. Commissioners heard from about two dozen people about the proposed changes, most in opposition.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Great Bend uses ordinance to deal with council vacancies
Using for the first time an ordinance created to deal with council vacancies, Great Bend City Council Monday night declared the Ward 4 seat currently held by Brock McPherson vacant due to his continued absences and lack of participation. Now, Mayor Cody Schmidt “with advise and consent of the council” will begin the process of finding a suitable elector for appointment at the next council meeting Monday, Aug. 21. …The reason for the ordinance approved in June by the council was the repeated lack of attendance by McPherson. Each of the city’s four wards has two council representatives, leaving Ward 4 with only one who attends meetings regularly, Natalie Towns.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Lawrence City Commission approves ban on single-use plastic bags
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a revived ordinance banning single-use plastic bags citywide. The ordinance has been in discussion for years, and the Sustainability Advisory Board has suggested multiple versions of it. It aims to reduce the use of plastics in the city, which in turn could help reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels and prevent some pollution from the bags, contamination through microplastics from bags’ degradation, and animal deaths from eating the bags, among other concerns. Commissioners in a 2-2 tie on June 20 voted down the ordinance that would have banned the use of single-use plastic bags in city limits. Mayor Lisa Larsen was absent from that meeting. She asked city staff members last month to bring it back on a future agenda. The approved iteration of the ordinance states that “Unless otherwise exempted under this Article, the use of Single-use Disposable Plastic Bags is hereby prohibited within the City limits.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
New bus route connects Lenexa to Mission
Johnson County has launched a new bus route that serves the 87th Street corridor — a central artery through Lenexa. The zero-fare Route 487 operates between Lenexa City Center (west of I-435) and the Mission Transit Center on Johnson Drive in Mission. This east-west connecting route also travels through downtown Overland Park and the western edge of Prairie Village. The Johnson County Transit RideKC service began Aug. 7, 2023. The bus route runs Monday through Friday from around 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., with buses scheduled an hour apart. There are five bus stops along the route. Route 487 connects to several other routes, including Route 495 at Lenexa City Center, which traverses 95th Street. The new bus route helps locals and visitors access a variety of amenities and opportunities.
Source: What’s New News Summary
City Council approves penalties for illegal gambling machines in Wichita
Wichita City Council members have given unanimous approval to an ordinance with penalties for certain businesses that are found to have possession of illegal gambling machines. The penalties apply to businesses that have city licenses for tobacco, liquor, cereal malt beverages and entertainment, as well as private club licenses. Assistant City Attorney Jan Jarman told the Council during its Tuesday meeting that illegal machines have skyrocketed across the city, and in many cases as police remove machines, new ones are brought in. She said the machines target low-income areas, they have no guaranteed payout and no oversight, and they are operating without any of the rules that a casino has.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Historic building owners, public invited to meeting to learn about state’s preservation program
The Fort Scott City Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Friday at City Hall to discuss the Certified Local Government program. Historic building owners and others in the community are invited to learn more about the program from Katrina Ringler, grants manager/CLG coordinator with the Kansas Historical Society.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
OP Historical Society lands state grant to launch tourist attraction in downtown
A $100,000 grant from Kansas is helping move the Overland Park Historical Society closer to its vision of transforming 8001 Santa Fe into an interactive museum that also restores the city’s train depot, built in 1906. The state grant aims to drive tourism and economic development. OPHS was the only entity in Johnson County to receive the State Park Revitalization and Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) grant. Locally, Children’s Mercy Park and Azura Amphitheater also received grants totaling $5 million and $1 million, respectively.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
28% of rural Kansas hospitals at risk of closure: report
The Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform (HQPR) Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closing report found 28% of Kansas hospitals at risk of closure. With pandemic aid now ended, closures are likely to increase, according to HQPR. The HQPR report found 600 rural hospitals in the U.S. at risk of closing. HQPR attributed the risk to problems such as health Insurance plans not paying hospitals enough to cover the cost of delivering service to patients and low financial reserves. The losses are expected to be greater in the future due to higher costs attributed to inflation, according to the HQPR report.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City of Great Bend to raise entry-level wages for its employees
The City of Great Bend is raising its entry-level wages for its employees. The entry-level wage increase to $15.50 per hour will begin on Aug. 20. The City of Great Bend says it also provides a great benefit package. Current open positions, both part-time and full-time, with the City of Great Bend, include: City of Great Bend Police Department custodian, Firefighter/EMT – paramedic, Police officer, Seasonal mower/maintenance.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for August 7, 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.
Program in Saline County will help teach rural businesses how to grow
Business owners in Saline County will have the opportunity to learn from faculty and staff from Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship about sales and growth strategies, marketing, branding and more through a certificate program offered locally this fall. The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, NetWork Kansas and WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship partnered to offer the “Growing Rural Businesses” program in Saline County starting Sept. 7. The program is an eight-week training tailored to meet the needs of existing rural businesses that are ready to grow.
Source: Salina Journal
Investors Bet That High Rates Will Linger
The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note has surged close to its highest level in more than a decade, lifted by new bets that a strong economy could support years of higher interest rates…. The recent climb in longer-term Treasury yields—which play a role in determining the cost of everything from mortgages to stocks—comes even as yields on shorter-term bonds have stalled. That is a sign investors think cooling inflation and resilient economic growth will allow the Federal Reserve to stop raising rates, then leave them unchanged at least until the end of the year.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets