Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for January 30, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Kansas cut sales tax on food, but here’s why rates can sometimes change block to block
At the bustling intersection of 135th Street and Metcalf in Overland Park, shoppers who want to save on food only need to cross the street. Go to Sprouts Farmers Market on the southern side of 135th, and you’ll pay 8.1% sales tax on food. But the Hen House on the north side of the street, the tax is just 6.6%. Since Kansas’ sales tax rate on food dropped from 6.5% to 4% on Jan. 1, some shoppers have been surprised to see the rates they are paying don’t match the savings they expected. While some stores did struggle in the first few days to adjust their rates, the lingering confusion is now rooted in how sales tax rates can sometimes fluctuate block by block in ways many residents are unlikely unaware of. An array of special tax districts can add to your bill depending on where you’re shopping. When you go to the grocery store, you’re charged state, county and city sales taxes, which add up to produce the total sales tax rate. However, at stores that fall within a special tax district, which include community improvement districts, you’ll pay even more.
Source: KC Star Local News
Towanda FD Receives Extractor
Last week, the Towanda Fire Department was 1 of 20 volunteer fire departments that was delivered a special piece of equipment designed to help remove cancerous causing chemicals from the bunker gear used to protect the volunteers when working. Thanks to the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment & Safety Grant, the department was able to receive the machine without any cost to them. The Continental Girbau Inc. EH020 Commercial Washer Extractor will significantly clean the department’s gear better than the regular washer they previously had. Extractors are more energy and resource efficient, using less water and energy resources to wash the gear, saving on water and electric/gas bills. Extractors are also programmed to spin the gear at a much faster rate, allowing the machine to pull out more soot and chemicals than a regular washer.
Source: Andover American
Parsons PD asks residents to fill out survey
The Parsons Police Department is asking residents to fill out the Parsons police community survey, which will be mailed. This community survey will be sent to each residence and can be filled out and returned using the enclosed prepaid postage. “We just asked for honest answers from the community to push our agency and city officials to the next level of public service,” said Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks.
Source: Parsons Sun
Topeka city leaders weigh in on homeless problem
With more trash and embankments popping up in Topeka, it’s no secret the homeless population is growing. “It’s hurting our neighborhoods,” District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdiva-Alcala said. “With the fires, with the public health and safety issues, with the squatting, with the going into vacant housing and then fires getting set, that’s what is making this a crisis.” “There are lots of smart people in the community that are trying to tackle challenges with the unsheltered,” Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade said. “Certainly, the governing body is concerned about it. And so this is what we’re asking for here, is an opportunity to look at innovative ways to address some of those challenges.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Fed’s words in focus as markets bet rate hikes will soon end
U.S. central bankers have unambiguously telegraphed this week’s policy decision: a quarter-of-a-percentage-point increase in their benchmark interest rate, the smallest since they kicked off their tightening cycle 10 months ago with one the same size. Less clear is whether they will continue to signal “ongoing increases” ahead for the policy rate as evidence mounts that inflation and the economy are both losing momentum. The Federal Reserve has included that phrase in every policy statement since March 2022, when officials had just started raising borrowing costs from near zero and wanted to signal there was a lot more tightening ahead. The rate increase expected at the Federal Open Market Committee’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1 meeting would bring the policy rate to the 4.5%-4.75% range. That’s two quarter-point rate hikes short of the level most Fed policymakers in December thought would be “sufficiently restrictive” to bring inflation under control. “Does the word ‘ongoing’ really capture just two more hikes? It’s a close call,” said III Capital Management’s Karim Basta. At the same time, he said, “there’s going to be some caution” about doing anything that could feed market expectations that a pause in rate hikes is imminent.
Source: Reuters
Could Kansans soon hop a train to Texas? Billions in federal funding might mean yes.
Billions in federal funding could be the catalyst that finally returns to Kansas passenger rail service to Texas, advocates and transportation officials told a Kansas legislative caucus Monday. … For years, passenger rail advocates have pushed for Amtrak and federal railroad officials to support expansion of the line up to Wichita and Newton, the latter of which would be a connection to the Southwest Chief. But years of stagnant ridership and federal funding for Amtrak had kept expansion at the conceptual level. However, as part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, federal lawmakers allocated $66 billion to passenger and freight train improvements over the next five years.
Source: CJonline
Kansas Day Campaign Pays Homage to 150 Years of ‘Home on the Range’
On Sunday, January 29, Kansas celebrated its 162nd birthday. To commemorate the day, Kansas Tourism released a video that pays tribute to the poem turned song, Home on the Range, originally penned 150 years ago near Athol. The lyrics of the world-renowned melody echo the aspirations, values and essence of Kansans past and present. The Kansas Day video, set to the famous song, highlights the uniqueness of Kansas. From scenic prairies and big night skies to urban delights and vibrant moments, the video showcases how the lyrics wrote many moons ago still ring true today.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Department of Commerce announces $40 Million in New Housing and Tourism Grant Programs
The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced $40 million will be made available under the ARPA Building Opportunities for the Disabled and Elderly (ABODE) and State Park Revitalization and Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) grant programs. The ABODE program will provide $10 million in funding for new construction projects and renovation of affordable multi-dwelling housing units for persons with disabilities and the elderly. The SPRINT program will distribute $30 million for investments in regional tourism assets and state parks. The funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council in December.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
STAR bond zone change raises questions
Following recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission, a zone change request within the STAR bond district came before the Derby City Council for final action at its Jan. 24 meeting. The request was to change the site of the STAR bond project’s final phase – northeast of the Tall Tree/Rock Road intersection – from R-1 (single-family residential) to B-3 (general business). The council voted unanimously to approve the request. With the zone change, final phase development of the lagoon, hotel, glamping site and more will be allowed to proceed. City Planner Scott Knebel also pointed out that certain special uses (glamping, aerial park, etc.) will require exceptions and site plans – allowing further review in the development process.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Pillars of light rise from Goodland, other Kansas towns
The bitterly cold temperatures that grabbed ahold of Kansas this weekend created an interesting phenomenon — pillars of light. But you had to brave the cold to see it. Brandon Vincent with the U.S. National Weather Service office in Goodland got some video of the pillars rising from Goodland early Sunday. An NWS Goodland Facebook post says the video was shot at 3:45 a.m. MST when the air temperature was 1 degree, the wind was from the north-northeast at 15 mph, and the wind chill was 18 below.
Source: KSN-TV
De Soto calls in nonprofit — and well-known area leader — to monitor $4B Panasonic project
De Soto officials will turn to a nonprofit to help it monitor planning and construction of the new $4 billion Panasonic EV battery plant. And while the nonprofit is based in Virginia, its team includes someone very acquainted with the Kansas City area — Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. De Soto contracted with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety to provide plan review and inspection services during construction of the 5.5 million-square-foot battery plant being built for Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd., according to a release. Construction of the project, which broke ground in November, is set to be completed in March 2025.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
“A Practical Solution to Aid in the Effort to Lower Property Taxes” by Russell City Manager Jon Quinday
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about property taxes and quoted author Adora Svitak who said, “The first thing anyone can do about any issue is get informed.” I chose this quote for two reasons: Property tax is the most criticized and misunderstood source of local government revenue, and in the past ten years, I’ve seen very little public participation during the budget process. I can only speak to the City of Russell’s process, which begins in April and ends in August. April begins with a look back at how we’ve performed in the past, where we can improve, and begin discussing priorities for the next year’s budget. Then we begin reviewing and discussing different budget segments at each meeting, which concludes in August with the final budget recommendations. You can attend in person or virtually, or you are welcome to come to the city building and discuss the budget proposals. Remember, you can access the city council agenda and all supporting documents the week before the meeting by visiting the city website at www.russellcity.org
Property taxes are an issue and challenge to many folks in our community, and my parents taught me a long time ago to stay informed and provide solutions. I have a solution that may help with property taxes. The solution is not a novel idea or a stroke of genius; rather, it is part of an agreement between the state and local governments. The agreements involved the loss of local revenue sources in exchange for establishing the Local Ad Valorem Property Tax Reduction fund (LAVTR), County City Revenue Sharing (CCRS), and Special City-County Highway fund (SCCHF). Revenue sharing in this manner dates back to the 1930s, with the current LAVTR statutory framework established in 1965 and the CCRS established in 1978.
According to the December 2022 issue of the Kansas Government Journal, cities and counties in Kansas have lost at least $3,470,603,394 as the result of the State’s decision not to fund demand transfers. Some state officials refer to the LAVTR, CCRS, and SCCHF as “state aid,” yet the history of these funds does not support that classification. (more…)
Why Hutchinson will see more fires in February
The Hutchinson Fire Department plans to set a bunch of fires in February north and east of the town. But it plans to put those fires out, too. The burning is part of the fire department’s wildfire mitigation plan — by torching dead grass and weeds, there won’t be as much fuel for any wildfires that start later in the year. Doug Hanen, HFD division chief of operations, says that when new grass grows in the burned areas, the vegetation will have moisture in it and be less likely to burn.
Source: KSN-TV
With Panasonic aboard, what’s next for the rest of De Soto’s former Sunflower plant?
The buildout of De Soto’s Astra Enterprise Park, formerly Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, won’t begin and end with Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery factory. Here’s a look at what the 9,035-acre site, which the partnership has owned since 2005 and in the fall renamed Astra Enterprise Park. No Wizard of Oz theme park is in the cards this time, but the vast swaths of land Sunflower has set aside for projects — and preservation — nevertheless promise significant new vitality for the former World War II powder and propellant plant site’s longtime owners have envisioned.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Hixson retiring as Mulvane city administrator
At its Jan. 16 meeting, during an executive session, Kent Hixson announced to the Mulvane City Council his plans to officially retire from his position as Mulvane City Administrator in 2023. Hixson has served as the city administrator in Mulvane since 1994, holding a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University. He has been an ICMA credentialed manager since 2002. While the city will start the search for his replacement shortly, in his announcement the 67-year-old Hixson noted he plans to stay on in his role through Oct. 6.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
New RCPD director settling in to new position
In the first month since taking over as the sixth director of the Riley County Police Department, Brian Peete has done a lot of visiting with members of the public. A well-attended meet and greet was held Thursday at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. A day later, Peete visited with KMAN, calling the ceremony both heartwarming and emotional. “It’s extraordinarily refreshing and blessed to be part of a community that has high expectations, but also understands that it takes everyone to move public safety and to move just the general vibe of a community forward,” he said. Peete was hired by the Riley County Law Board in late October, but finds himself in a unique position, now that four of the seven members who hired him based on a more progressive approach to law enforcement, have since transitioned off the board, swinging the political pendulum from a liberal entity to a more conservative one. Peete says he’s been reassured by the new board, who have expressed support for him and RCPD.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Deputies Recovering Well After Dodge City Shooting
The Ford County Sheriff’s Office provided updates Friday on the condition of the deputies injured during an officer-involved shooting in Dodge City Monday morning. Deputies Gary Salmans and Brandon Hornback were identified as the Ford County deputies who were injured. Deputy Salmans was hit by shrapnel during the incident. He was treated and released from St. Catherine’s Hospital in Dodge City Monday afternoon. Deputy Hornback was shot and taken to a hospital in Wichita where he underwent surgery. The Clark County Sheriff identified Undersheriff Wallace Long as the third deputy who was injured. He too was taken to a hospital in Wichita. All three men are now recovering from their injuries at home, and are said to be doing well.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
As petition gains steam, Manhattan official says fees are needed to maintain Aggieville parking garage
An online petition calling for free parking for Aggieville employees has more than 5,900 signatures as of Friday. Fees for the new parking garage on North Manhattan Avenue took effect on Jan. 17. But a city official says the city government needs the money for upkeep of the building. Employees at Aggieville’s Bluestem Bistro started the petition — “Free Parking for Aggieville Employees” — three weeks ago on change.org. “Employee parking in Aggieville has been a struggle for years, and with recent construction, it is only getting worse,” said a statement on the online petition.
Source: themercury.com
Winfield prepares for sesquicentennial celebration
The Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Winfield 150 Committee is making plans to celebrate 150 years since the town’s incorporation date in 1873 and residents are invited to participate in the festivities. There are many ways to get involved, starting with becoming a sponsor of the celebration. The chamber is asking for supporting sponsorships of $150 or more to help with the costs of the big community celebration weekend June 2-4.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler