Municipal News & Jobs

Wichita city leaders are saying that something has got to give to address the city’s expected budget deficit. It’s in the millions of dollars. Council members are debating whether a property tax or a sales tax could address the shortfall. At Tuesday’s City Council workshop, council members debated the budget shortfall and possible solutions, including adding a 1% sales tax and/or raising the mill levy for property taxes.
Source: KSN-TV

Police in Liberal are investigating a series of violent acts they say are carried out by a group of teens who may be organizing themselves as a gang. The incidents, which involve kidnapping, assaults, and other crimes, police say, are raising serious concerns within the community. In a public safety announcement published on social media, Liberal police say the group may meet the legal definition of a criminal street gang under Kansas law.
Source: KSN-TV

Ness City Schools is moving forward with a $24 million bond proposal aimed at addressing longstanding facility issues, safety concerns, and outdated infrastructure, following years of temporary fixes and community discussions. The proposal includes the construction of new locker rooms, a gymnasium, and a connector between the district’s elementary and high school buildings, which currently sit across the street from each other.
Source: KSN-TV

The city of Pittsburg reaches an agreement that will allow two organizations to spend more money in hopes of bringing in more money to the city. On Tuesday night, city commissioners agreed to increase economic development agreements, with Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Pittsburg State to 65-thousand dollars. It’s a increase of $10,000 compared to the past. The organizations use it to fund projects and events to help bring more people and money to Pittsburg while bringing in the right people to get the job done.
Source: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Arkansas City High School this week implemented a new visitor check-in system as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to school safety, district officials said in a written statement. As of Tuesday, Securly Visitor is in place at ACHS’s main entrance. All visitors who plan to enter the building beyond the front office must present a government-issued photo ID at check-in. The system will scan the ID, complete a quick background check, and print a visitor badge that includes the guest’s name, photo, and destination within the school.  Visitors who are only stopping by the front office will not need to check in or receive a printed badge. 
Source: Local – Cowley Post

Facing a deficit of several million dollars in coming years, Wichita elected officials are talking about the possibility of increasing or adding taxes. Options could include a 1% city sales tax or a property tax rate increase, officials said during a recent city workshop. Current estimates show the city expects a $3.8 million deficit in 2026. That increases to $10.8 million the following year. The estimated deficits would be caused mainly by cost increases, including staff wages, as well as expected lower interest earnings.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Wichita school district officials say they don’t have plans now to come back to voters to ask for a smaller bond issue vote. Voters narrowly rejected a $450 million bond issue earlier this year. “We have no plans,” the district’s Chief Financial Officer Addi Lowell said Thursday at the first meeting of a new citizen financial oversight committee. That committee could eventually come back with a recommendation for another public vote on a bond proposal, though. Right after the February election, officials with the district and the Vote Yes campaign had signaled that a smaller bond vote could be a possibility.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

The city of Wichita is moving forward with plans to hire a consulting firm to assist in its search for a new city manager. The Wichita City Council approved issuing a request for proposal to hire a search firm Tuesday. The firm will assist in multiple public engagement opportunities as the job description is developed and as final candidates are considered.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kansas water issues, particularly those relating to irrigation ditches, was the topic of the Finney County Historical Museum’s Evening at the Museum event on Tuesday. Kevin Salter, Inter-state Water Engineer with the Kansas Division of Water Resources, was the presenting speaker. The event was kind of like a Water Rights 101 class, Salter said, specifically looking at Kansas ditch and the development of Kansas Water Law.
Source: Garden City Telegram

The Garden City Commission approved a non-federal match contract with the Kansas Water Office at its regular meeting Tuesday. The contract offers support for the Garden City Water Reuse Project. Mike Muirhead, Garden City Public Works Director, said the idea for the Garden City Water Reuse Project first presented to the Upper Arkansas Advisory Committee, also known as the RAC, asking for funding support in the State Water Plan, which is developed by the Kansas Water Authority and administered by the Kansas Water Office.
Source: Garden City Telegram

More than 500 new housing units will be needed across Cowley County by 2030 in order to meet demand, Winfield City Commissioners learned during a housing study update at their Thursday work session. The updated study, conducted by Hanna:Keelan Associates, Inc. of Lincoln, Neb., helps assess current housing conditions, identify future needs, and outline actions to be taken, according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall.
Source: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results

The Kansas City, Kansas Community Identification Act adopted by the Unified Government does not facially violate K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1). Because the person providing a Community ID card would not necessarily know an applicant’s immigration status, the person would likely lack the mens rea required under K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1)(A). Additionally, it would be difficult for anyone to violate K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1)(C) because it is unlikely the person providing the Community ID card as provided in the ordinance would ever know an applicant was being exploited for the financial gain of another. However, it is possible, in particular instances where this information is known, issuance of the card could violate the law. A similar reasoning applies to a person possessing the Community ID card. Because a Community ID card does not purport to establish a person’s legal presence in the United States, and because a Community ID card applicant must give identifying and residence information to a government entity, mere possession of a Community ID card cannot amount to the bearer harboring or concealing oneself. However, the Community ID card program does implicate 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv), which makes it a crime to “encourage[ ] or induce[ ] an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.” The Unified Government clearly intended to facilitate the continued unlawful presence of illegal aliens when it acted to create the Community ID card program. The program therefore stands as an obstacle to accomplishment of Congress’s objectives and is likely preempted. The ordinance is also subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 77-207 as the ordinance requires the collection of “vital statistics.” Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-16,139; K.S.A. 12-16,140; K.S.A. 12-16,142; K.S.A. 21-5108; K.S.A. 21-5202; K.S.A. 21-5432; K.S.A. 77-207; 8 U.S.C. § 1324.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

The Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce is encouraging Kansas communities interested in moving local housing initiatives forward to take advantage of a special free event Tuesday, April 29, in Great Bend. Hosted by the Housing Interagency Advisory Committee (HIAC), the event is targeted at communities that have completed a Housing Assessment Tool (HAT) or have a structured housing plan in place. State and federal partners will discuss resources, connections and funding guidance communities will need to address existing housing gaps.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

For most of the Halstead Planning Commission’s discussion of their draft regulations for battery energy storage systems (BESS), they considered suggestions provided by several “No BESS” t-shirt-wearing attendees. Also in attendance for Monday’s P&Z meeting were representatives from Concurrent, the Texas company that’s leasing land in Halstead’s industrial park with plans to build a BESS on the site if things work out for them with Halstead’s P&Z and city council.
Source: Harvey County Now

How many pets should Holton residents be allowed to keep at their homes? That’s the question that mem­bers of the Holton City Commis­sion are looking into now after a member of the commission re­viewed ordinances from other cities in Kansas limiting the num­ber of dogs and/or cats that may be kept in a household inside the city limits. At the present time, Holton city ordinances do not limit the number of dogs and/or cats that may be kept at a residence in the city, but at least two Holton residents voiced concerns over the city limiting the number of dogs, cats and other pets they keep at their homes at the commis­sion’s regular meeting on Monday. After some discussion on the mat­ter, commissioners voted to table it until their next meeting, set for Monday, April 21.
Source: The Holton Recorder

The City of Holton has “a pretty good supply of bricks” on hand to facilitate re­building a block of one of Holton’s brick streets, as Holton Street Su­perintendent Greg Tank­ing told members of the Holton City Com­mission on Monday. This year, however, the city’s annual street improvement pro­gram involves taking one of Holton’s 85 blocks of brick streets — the 200 block of Wisconsin Av­enue — and converting it to con­crete, Tanking told commissioners, who approved the 2025 street pro­gram on a 4-1 vote during the com­mission’s regular meeting that evening.
Source: The Holton Recorder

Thanks to a grant from Variety KC, more youth will be able to enjoy Olathe’s pools this year. The city recently purchased water wheelchairs for all of its pools, as well as for Lake Olathe. “We felt this was a great way to get more people out and about and enjoying the pool and the water,” said Marc Harrell, chief inclusion officer for Variety KC. Variety KC, a local non-profit, focuses on supporting programs and technology that allow children with physical and cognitive disabilities to take part in activities. It has also helped families get necessary medical equipment.
Source: Johnson County KS News & Sports |

The California, Oregon and Santa Fe National Historic Trails span 25 states and 25,000 miles, and they have an extensive history right here in Johnson County. Brown signs mark the places where these three trails crossed through our county, commemorating those who used them for passage and trade between the 1830s and 1860s. Emigrants used the Oregon and California National Historic Trails to find a better life in the west, while merchants established the Santa Fe Trail for commercial purposes. Beginning in Missouri, the trails wound west through Johnson County, splitting off into their three distinct routes. These trails have a legacy in our county – not only in the names of local streets, schools and parks, but also as history you can visit. At numerous locations in the county, you can stand in the exact spot pioneers pursuing a better life did centuries ago.
Source: Johnson County Kansas

A resident-led group who successfully organized in opposition to selling Westwood’s main city park earlier this month still insists the city should buy the old Westwood View Elementary building nearby in order to build an even larger park on that corner. But the city’s mayor reiterated in a recent email newsletter to residents that the city lacks the money to buy the school property on its own and had been banking on an influx of cash from the developer who wanted to build on the adjacent Joe D. Dennis Park. Now, what happens to the school property as well as Joe D. Dennis Park remains up for discussion, though city officials say their options are limited.
Source: Johnson County Post

After years of hefty borrowing and financial decisions that have strained public services, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, has pledged to be more financially responsible with its taxpayers’ dollars. Local officials this spring are trying to get a grip on their spending, reviewing past — and recent — practices including frequent dips into reserve funds and rapidly-assumed long-term debt, as they eye the 2026 fiscal year and looming summer cuts.
Source: Local Kansas City Missouri & Kansas News |

The Salina Airport Authority invites the public to a special event celebrating the first United Express nonstop flight from Salina Regional Airport (SLN) to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on Friday, May 2, 2025. The celebration will begin at 9:45 a.m. at the Salina Regional Airport Terminal and conclude with the flight’s departure at 11:30 a.m. This marks the launch of Salina’s first nonstop commercial service to Houston, a major United Airlines hub, opening new travel and business opportunities for the region.
Source: KCLY Radio

Members of the Parsons Police Department were recognized with the Bronze Unit Citation for Uncommon Valor at the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Spring Conference on April 16 in Mulvane. The award honors the department’s efforts—alongside the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)—in dismantling a major drug trafficking operation across Southeast Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The investigation, which began in January 2023, was initiated by Detective Brice Dickens following citizen reports of local drug activity. Detective Dickens’ work led to a coordinated effort with the KBI, DEA, and Labette County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in multiple federal indictments.
Source: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will join Kansas Department of Health and Environment leadership and local officials in Garden City for an update on the measles outbreak in Kansas. It will take place at 2 p.m., and KSN News will provide a live stream of the event. As of Tuesday, Kansas has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced Wednesday. Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, and Morton counties each have fewer than five cases. Haskell County has the most cases, with eight, Stevens County has seven, and Kiowa County has six.
Source: KSN-TV

The community of Ellinwood wants to convert a now-closed hospital into a behavioral health center for veterans. After a new hospital and clinic were built, discussions began about what to do with the old building, which was built in 1952 “We did some research and discovered there’s just a little south of 9,000 veterans in Barton County and the four surrounding counties in this area. We also started talking to community members,” Jon Prescott, the manager of swing bed development at Ellinwood Hospital, said. “We got great support.” The closest veteran care centers are an hour and 40 minutes away.
Source: KSN-TV

On this day 24 years ago, the city of Hoisington in Barton County was struck by a tornado. On April 21, 2001, a tornado that would go on to be rated as an F4 on the discontinued Fujita Scale touched down southwest of Hoisington. Under the previous F ratings, the tornado that hit the community had estimated wind speeds from 207 to 260 mph. After it touched down, the tornado took a path northeast through Hoisington, destroying 212 homes and businesses. Eighty-five homes had significant damage, and 200 had minor to moderate damage.
Source: KSN-TV

After 25 years of service, Wichita Fire Department’s longtime mascot Sparky has officially retired — and on Saturday, the department introduced his furry successor. In a special event hosted by the Kansas Humane Society, WFD revealed the name and face of its new mascot: Rigs. The name was selected with help from the public following Sparky’s retirement announcement.
Source: KSN-TV

A week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained several people in parts of western Kansas, city leaders in Liberal are preparing for more detainments in the coming weeks. Liberal city leaders say because they don’t know the whereabouts or identification of some of those people taken, their big concern right now is what could happen to families if someone is taken away. They say last week they had a situation where they lost track of a group of children after adult family members were detained by ICE. They later learned the kids had been taken in by a family member. Now, city officials are looking for ways to make sure children are taken care of if family members are detained.
Source: KSN-TV

Rose Hill Public Schools says all of its buildings are now equipped with automated external defibrillators. The district purchased Phillips FRX units, which include child keys, making them easy to use and accessible to anyone in their facilities, and have been installed in every school, as well as the stadium, Central Office, Transportation, and the Parents as Teachers building. Defibrillators work by sending an electrical shock through the body to shock the heart into a normal rhythm.
Source: KSN-TV

The federal government has now cut grants for two Sedgwick County programs. One of the programs provides resources for young moms. The other, through COMCARE, helps to treat people experiencing psychosis for the first time. Shantel Westbrook, the director of clinical and rehab services at COMCARE, says although their program is one of the ones facing cuts, they’re finding ways to fund it. COMCARE is adjusting to a loss in federal funding for a program to help those dealing with psychosis for the first time.
Source: KSN-TV

Arkansas City has introduced a new logo to represent the community’s heritage, landscape, and shared aspirations. The design includes a flowing “swoosh” element representing the Arkansas and Walnut Rivers, which will also be featured on new entrance signs. It complements the city’s water treatment plant logo, which includes three water droplets, emphasizing the theme of vital water resources.
Source: KSN-TV

A new ordinance allowing the city of Wichita to fine landlords who retaliate against tenants has yet to be put to use. Landlord retaliation can include an eviction or rent increase within six months of a tenant’s complaint to the city’s inspections department about the quality of their housing, according to the ordinance. It was passed in January 2024 by the City Council after several council members said they heard complaints from tenants about retaliation. But between January 2024 and January 2025, the city received just nine complete complaints from tenants alleging retaliation, said City Attorney Jennifer Magaña.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Firefighters have contained but continued Thursday to fight a fire that started the night before at a landfill in Park City. The fire is still smoldering at Evergreen Recycle, 302 West 53rd Street North, but contained to a roughly 100 foot by 100 foot area, Sedgwick County spokesperson Stephanie Birmingham said. The rain overnight also helped with fighting the fire. Lightning is the suspected cause of the fire.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Bradley Harris, the city administrator of North Newton, has been hired by Peabody as a consultant providing city management-related services. These services include organization development, project management, and unspecified duties as directed by city council.
Source: Marion County RECORD

Marion City Council took initial steps at a work session Monday to reassert its role in two areas that increasingly have been left to city staff. For the past two years, the council barely discussed budgeting until immediately before tax levies had to be established. Starting May 5, the council will discuss budgeting at each of its semi-monthly meetings until final adoption of a tax levy in September.
Source: Marion County RECORD

Wilson County is one step closer to housing what would be — at least for now — the largest solar farm in the state. The Wilson County Commission approved earlier this month a special use permit for what’s been dubbed the Sunflower Sky Solar Project. If approved, the 65-megawatt plant would cover more than 500 acres of farmland south of Altoona in rural Wilson County. For comparison’s sake, the state’s current largest plant — the Johnson Corner solar farm — covers 144 acres in Stanton County in northwest Kansas and generates 27.5 megawatts of power.
Source: The Iola Register

Kansas has once again seen net domestic out-migration, with a net loss of 4,700 residents to other states in 2024, the latest year for which United States Census Bureau figures are available. Domestic migration is defined as legal U.S. residents moving into or out of a state. This is part of a long-running trend of population loss from domestic migration in the Sunflower State. According to the Kansas Policy Institute Green Book, between 2000 and 2023, Kansas lost 197,492 residents — roughly 7% of the total population — ranking 39th in the nation. KPI owns the Sentinel.
Source: The Sentinel

People of all ages got creative in the new location of Manhattan’s skate park Saturday. No, they weren’t doing kickflips or grinding the rails, but took part in a “Paint the Park” event co-hosted by Switch Wicked — a screen printing and apparel business founded in 2021 — and the Manhattan Parks and Recreation department. During a three-hour timespan, attendees of all experience levels used spray paint cans to colorize the setting dominated by a solid gray.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article

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.

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.