Kansas Municipal News
Bourbon County changes minimum on Neighborhood Revitalization Program
Bourbon County Commissioners have made changes to the county’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which provides rebates on additional taxes due to improvements, additions or new residential, business or agricultural structures. After a discussion Tuesday, the commission approved Commissioner Clifton Beth’s motion to change the residential portion of the program to $5,000 in added value to the property to qualify, and raise the rebate period from five years to 10 years.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Kansas loses population as neighboring states gain
Kansas is one of 18 states to see a decline in population between July 2021 and July 2022, according to the Census Bureau. The Sunflower State is alone in population loss in the region. The closest Midwestern state on the list is Illinois. Negative domestic migration, or more U.S. residents leaving a state than moving in, is a primary cause of the decline… Nebraska is the only neighboring state that had negative migration, losing 4,270, but still managed a population increase of about 4,000 people.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Kansas wheat farmers face a tougher future with more dry, hot, windy weather
It’s been a rough year for the Wheat State’s trademark crop. This resilient plant is a fighter. But even for a grain that’s seemingly built to succeed on these unforgiving plains, the ongoing drought tests its limits. Wheat farmers, like Chris Tanner in northwest Kansas, feel the roller coaster. “It can be very, very bountiful or it can be the complete polar opposite and be a famine,” Tanner said. “You have to learn how to weather those storms in life.” Recently, those storms have been closer to a Dust Bowl than a deluge. After the rain shut off last spring, most of his wheat fields in northern Norton County ended up producing fewer than 20 bushels per acre, a steep drop from his average yields. Many of them didn’t grow enough to bother harvesting at all.
Source: themercury.com
Osage City Library plans Valentine’s Day surprises for local seniors
The Osage City Library will be delivering some love to all the senior living centers for Valentine’s Day. Those who would like to participate can purchase or make homemade valentines, write a note, and sign them. The library’s goal is to make sure each resident receives at least five or six valentines each. Between 750 to 900 valentines are needed.
Source: Osage County News
Merriam tweaks downtown plan to address business concerns
Merriam is tweaking a plan to remake the city’s downtown corridor after some business owners objected to aspects of an initial plan unveiled earlier this month. At a special meeting Thursday, the city council authorized slight adjustments to a conceptual makeover of Merriam Drive between 55th Street and Johnson Drive — a project focused on safety, bikeability and walkability that has been years in the making.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wind Farms Deliver Economic Jolt to Rural Middle America
A wind power boom in the nation’s central corridor has been a financial windfall for some struggling rural areas. Coke County, Texas, which has a population of about 3,300, had the biggest increase in economic output of any county in the country between 2019 and 2021, according to a Stateline analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics. Coke County’s gross domestic product, or GDP, increased from $128 million to $235 million, or 83%. Including Coke County, seven of the top 10 counties with the largest GDP increases had significant recent wind farm construction, the analysis found. … Much of the wind farm construction is happening in the areas identified as high-wind from the Dakotas south to Oklahoma and Texas, including Kansas, Nebraska and neighboring states, as well as concentrations around Iowa and the Great Lakes. Texas leads all states with 18,315 turbines as of late 2022, according to the federal data on turbines analyzed by Stateline, followed by Iowa (6,205), California (5,981), Oklahoma (5,370) and Kansas (3,962).
Source: Pew
Kansas eyes filmmaking incentives
As much as Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott wants to shoot movies in his home state of Kansas, sometimes he just can’t. Take for instance, “The 24th,” his 2020 movie about an all-Black regiment of soldiers that rebelled in the face of abuse and violence from the Houston police in 1917. But producers decided that the movie, with a $9 million budget, would be shot in North Carolina because that state offered incentives to filmmakers.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for January 20, 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.
R9 Ranch water project delays costing Hays millions of dollars
Mayor Mason Ruder likes to point out he was four years old in 1995 when the city of Hays purchased the R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water supply. Now, 28 years later, the project is finally picking up speed, especially in the past year. “Every day is now an R9 Ranch Day,” Ruder declared with a smile during last week’s city commission meeting. City Manager Toby Dougherty updated commissioners on the R9 water transfer process. It started in February 2014 when the then-city commission voted to apply to the state to change the water use from agricultural irrigation to municipal, and begin the approval process.
Source: Hays Post
How the Golden Gloves helps the Hutchinson economy
The Kansas State Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament Saturday and Sunday in Hutchinson could bring in some big business to the Salt City, said Richard Gadbury, who will run the tournament…. Gadbury, owner of the Reno County Boxing Academy, said the Golden Gloves state tournament will draw boxers and their families from all over Kansas. “We are hoping to see 300-500 friends, family and fans attend the event,” Gadbury said. “We went the extra mile this year as far as advertising, and we were also able to get some awesome sponsorship opportunities from local businesses. “In our area, the State Golden Gloves shows consistently brings in a crown of around 500 fans, and 15-20 tournament entries. However, by all metrics, those numbers are on the rise. In the next couple of years, KO Golden Gloves is hoping to double the amount of tournament entries out of Kansas. Local gyms such RCBA, Alley Boxing. KO Boxing, Villa Boxing and Hernandez Boxing each have a strong stable of competitors that will be turning 18, therefore opening the door for more participants.”
Source: Hutch News
Topeka Fire Department has seen an upsurge in applicants. This change may be the reason.
The size of the applicant pool for Topeka firefighter’s jobs has dwindled in recent years, to the point where fire Chief Randy Phillips said only 20 to 25 people applied each time testing was offered. But a move made last week may have sparked a turnaround. Phillips announced Jan. 11 that the department, which has historically hired only certified emergency medical technicians, was doing away with that requirement. Applicants who lack EMT certification — and are subsequently hired — will instead receive that training once they start work, he said. “This is another way for us to attract the best and the brightest, and we see this change as a way to remove a potential barrier for those who have interest in joining our ranks,” Phillips said.
Source: CJonline
Fed Governor Lael Brainard sees high rates ahead even with progress on inflation
Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said Thursday that interest rates need to remain high, even though there are signs inflation is starting to ease. Echoing recent comments from her fellow policymakers, Brainard insisted that the Fed won’t waiver in its commitment to taming prices that have come down some in recent months but remain near four-decade highs. “Even with the recent moderation, inflation remains high, and policy will need to be sufficiently restrictive for some time to make sure inflation returns to 2% on a sustained basis,” she said in remarks prepared for a speech in Chicago.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Audit of Kansas economic development programs offers mixed assessment of incentives
Auditors working for the Kansas Legislature estimated five of the state’s major business development incentive programs would generate positive total returns for the private-sector economy but not produce enough growth in tax revenue to cover public investments. The evaluation was ordered in June by a joint committee of the House and Senate due to skepticism among some legislators with the state government’s use of tax credits or exemptions, or direct expenditure of state funds, to convince businesses to make capital investments or create jobs in Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly, who won reelection in November, invited scrutiny by pointing to her first-term success in pursuing new jobs, including a $4 billion Panasonic battery plant for De Soto. Legislative auditor Josh Luthi said during a briefing with lawmakers all five programs were viewed as “generally successful” despite projections the programs wouldn’t deliver enough new state and local income, sales or property taxes to cover every dollar in direct costs or foregone revenue devoted to economic development.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Municipal Bond Trends for January 19, 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 juvenile justice reform effort left major flaws in system, officials say
Stabbings, 16-year-olds with guns and violent attacks: Officials working with young offenders in Kansas say they need lawmakers to step up and fix flaws within the state’s juvenile justice system. The debate centered around Senate Bill 367, which was implemented in 2016. The bill was passed with the intention of reducing youth incarceration rates and reforming the juvenile justice system in the state. The legislation shifted practices away from holding youths in group homes or state custody, instead funneling money into community programs and treatment. The legislation included limits on probation and case lengths, making it less common for youths to be detained or sent to correctional facilities.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Fed’s Brainard sees economy improving, flags concerns around housing
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard sees economic conditions moving in the right direction and sees room for a so-called ‘soft landing’ for the economy after a year of record-high inflation. Speaking at an event at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business on Thursday afternoon, Brainard, the second-ranking member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, said inflation has largely subsided in most spending categories aside from housing costs and non-housing services. She also noted that a cooling labor market has led to slower wage growth, but the overall employment picture remains strong.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Governor Kelly’s tax cut plan introduced in the Kansas Legislature
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said Thursday that all three elements of her tax cut plan have been introduced in the state House and Senate. The first part of the “Axing Your Taxes” package calls for the complete elimination of the state sales tax on groceries, as well as the sales tax on other essentials like diapers and feminine hygiene products, which were not part of a bill approved last year. The second part of the plan calls for a four-day state sales tax holiday in August on the purchase of school supplies.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Emporia discusses possible rental registration program
The City of Emporia discussed the possibility of a rental property registration at its meeting Wednesday afternoon. Director of Building and Neighborhood Development Kory Krause and Housing Specialist Jeff Lynch presented commissioners with a proposal for the rental registration program, on behalf of the Community Housing Board. Lynch said the board believes a registration program for rental properties in the city will provide accountability from the city’s landlords and help the city better communicate with landlords and tenants about current codes. The housing board previously debated the need for a registration program in June of last year, citing a string of issues with rental properties in the city.
Source: Emporia Gazette
City Attorney selects new commission member after split vote
After the four sitting members of the Hiawatha City Commission could not come to a consensus on the next Street Commissioner, the vote was left in the hands of City Attorney Andy Delaney at Thursday night’s Special Meeting of the commission. With Toni Hull and Laura Tollefson each receiving two votes, motions to elect Bob Rahe and Tom Martin were put forth, but died for lack of a second. No more motions were made, and Mayor Becky Shamburg announced that the procedure dictated that the City Attorney would make the selection, and it was Hull who received Delaney’s endorsement.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
‘Those are pot-bellied pigs’: Experts say no evidence of feral hogs in Garden Plain, credit state’s strict no-hunting law
He says if hunting them was legal, it would just scatter them, causing a multitude of new population pockets. “With most wildlife populations, if we’re trying to reduce abundance, we want to use hunters as tools for wildlife management. It’s efficient, it’s cheap, and that sort of thing. Because the hogs are so prolific, that doesn’t work very well,” said Ricketts. Ricketts says the proof is in the pudding – unlike neighboring states that allow public feral swine hunting, Kansas is the only one with fewer hogs now than in 2004.
Source: KAKE – News