Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for December 4, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 3, 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.
Overland Park firms up plan to overhaul city development codes
Overland Park is taking steps to update its rules and regulations for future development and redevelopment projects to match the priorities of the city’s new comprehensive plan. On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted 12-0 to approve an agreement with White and Smith, LLC, for consulting on the revision of the city’s development codes called the Unified Development Ordinance. Earlier in the evening, the council’s Community Development Committee also unanimously recommended approval of the contract for the ordinance update. Overland Park has earmarked just shy of $560,000 for consulting services on the project, which is expected to take several months. “This is a big step,” Mayor Curt Skoog said of the review process.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park intends for new, renovated city buildings to be greener. How?
Overland Park is one step closer to adopting a new code that aims to increase the sustainability of new and updated city facilities. Last month, the Overland Park City Council Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee voted 5-1 to recommend adopting green building objectives for city facilities. For the most part, the members of the committee were supportive of adopting a sustainability code for city construction projects, though there was some disagreement about how strict the new building objectives should be.
Source: Johnson County Post
County commission approves administrator job listing
After multiple weeks of discussing how to fill the Harvey County Administrator role, the commission made steps to start the hiring process. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber gave his resignation last month, prompting the commission to begin plans to replace him. Swartendruber’s last day is Dec. 27. The county commission approved a job description written by Human Resources Director Heidi Huber and analyzed by county counselor Brad Jantz. At the previous meeting, the commission requested a first draft of a job listing be written up.
Source: Harvey County Now
Trash service costs spiking in Burrton
Residents in Burrton will see a significant increase in their solid waste fee starting this month. On Monday, Dec. 2, the city approved an increase to trash service rates from $18 to $28 per month, which is an increase of more than 50 percent. Kim Ryan, Burrton city clerk, said the increase will start with the December trash bill going out this month. Ryan said the increase would help the city keep up with increased costs from Nisly Brothers, the trash company the city uses, as well as inflation costs.
Source: Harvey County Now
Transition from journalism to public service easy for new city admin
North Newton has hired a new city administrator. The City of North Newton announced that Bradley Harris will fill the open position. Harris comes to North Newton after working as the assistant to the city manager in Oak Point Texas, as well as a job working for the City of Lawrence.
Source: Harvey County Now
State sales tax dropping off food
In less than a month, state sales tax on groceries will be eliminated. However, you’ll still see local taxes on purchases of food items. On Jan. 1, the state sales tax on food and food ingredients will drop from a 2 percent tax on purchases to 0 percent. The change represents the final action in a 2022 law that gradually reduced the sales tax on food, which had been 6.5 percent.
Source: Harvey County Now
Governor Kelly Announces $10.7M to Expand Internet Access to Devices and Public Wi-Fi
Governor Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that applications will open Thursday, Dec. 12, for a second round of the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. The program will provide $10.7 million to organizations working to expand access to public wi-fi and connected devices. “Our digital opportunity programs empower Kansans to reach their full potential in work, education, and entrepreneurship,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT program provides resources for communities to thrive in a digitally connected economy.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Water bills for Wichita customers will be going up. Here’s when and how much
Wichita water and sewer customers can expect to see their bill continue to increase at higher than expected rates as the city’s new water treatment plant comes online. The City Council approved a combined 6.14% rate increase for next year – which amounts to approximately $3.21 more a month on residential customer bills, according to the city. However, other fees associated with water use will rise significantly. Account origination fees, which are added to water customers bills when they first start an account with the city, are currently $34. With the council’s approval, it will now be $53. Fees also increased for meter maintenance, connection and testing services. Those fees are adjusted every two years, according to Public Works Director Gary Janzen.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Olathe sets up incentives for new downtown restaurants
Olathe has started the process of issuing incentives to two new eateries that are coming to the city’s downtown area next year. Pizza 51 South and Third Street Social have both requested industrial revenue bonds and 10-year full property tax abatements, as well as 2% Community Improvement District special sales taxes. The two businesses are part of a trio of Kansas City-based restaurants that recently announced plans to open new locations in downtown Olathe. The third is Char Bar, which also is expected to eventually add pickleball courts to its new Olathe venue.
Source: Johnson County Post
Under revised rules, Leawood developers would be on hook for replacing trees or paying for them
Leawood may become a little more flexible on its tree replacement policy for developers, if an ordinance recently approved by the city’s planning commission gets final council approval. In a 5-2 vote the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, commissioners put their support behind a new proposal that would allow developers of commercial property a way around rules that require them to replace trees over a certain size that they plan to tear out. Under the proposed changes, the developers could either partner with nearby property owners to plant trees on their land or pay the city for the value of the trees to be destroyed.
Source: Johnson County Post
No violation found in ethics complaint against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu
The City of Wichita Ethics Board met on Tuesday to discuss a complaint against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. On Oct. 23, the president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 135, Ted Bush, signed a complaint alleging three violations by Wu: Wu “improperly instructed” Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow to lay off 42 WFD employees during a private meeting; Wu interfered with or expressed improper interest in the City hiring process; Wu did not act by majority vote and gave instructions as an individual council member to a department head. Both Wu and Bush provided the Ethics Board with their side of the story, including documentation and recordings. Source: KSN-TV
Survey shows early response to Wichita Public Schools $450M bond proposal
The Wichita Board of Education has an early idea of how the vote on a $450 million bond proposal for Wichita Public Schools could go in a couple of months. A research firm conducted a phone survey in mid-November and presented the results during Monday’s BOE meeting. Of the 301 people surveyed, 77.6% said they were in favor of the bond proposal. At first, 36% were opposed, but some switched to favoring the proposal when they were told the $450 million bond would not change the current tax rate or mill levy. You can expect to hear a lot about the proposal over the next few months. The vote is scheduled for Feb. 25 and will be for registered voters living in the Wichita school district.
Source: KSN-TV
Emporia city manager calls Tyson layoffs a major ‘setback’
A major employer is set to lay off hundreds of employees in the Emporia area. The city manager there calls it a “setback” for the community. The Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC) shows on its website that a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) was filed by Tyson Food, Inc. on Dec. 2. It impacts 809 employees at the Tyson Fresh Meats location at 2101 West Sixth Street in Emporia. WARN notices are required by employers under federal law to provide advance warning to workers when a plant closure or mass layoffs are imminent. It is to help workers and their families find enough time to adjust to the situation and find new employment.
Source: KSN-TV
New USDA pilot program will help rural homeowners
The United States Department of Agriculture has chosen Kansas as one of 25 states and U.S. territories to participate in a new pilot program. The USDA says the pilot program under the Single Family Housing Home Repair Loans and Grants program will help homeowners in rural areas more quickly make needed repairs to their homes in areas placed under a Presidential Disaster Declaration or live in Rural Partner Network communities. Many contractors require a 50% upfront before ordering materials and work begins. Under the pilot program, suppliers will be paid directly or to the contractor after receipt of a paid invoice. The USDA says the new pilot program will help homeowners make needed repairs or improvements to their homes while preventing fraud. Under the Single Family Housing Home Repair Loans and Grants program, low-income homeowners can receive loans of up to $40,000, and those over 62 can receive grants of up to $10,000. The 20-year term loans have a 1% interest rate. For those over 62, the loans can be combined with the grant for a maximum lifetime total of $50,000.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for December 2, 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.
Tyson Foods says it will close 809-employee facility in Emporia by mid-February
Tyson Foods on Monday announced to employees it would close its facility in Emporia in February 2025. The plant has more than 800 employees.
Source: CJonline
This is the only band from Kansas to ever march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade
In 1974, 400 marching bands applied to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Only 14 were chosen. One of them hailed from a small town in northeast Kansas. To this day, in the 100-year history of the famous holiday parade, it is the only band from Kansas that has ever participated, Macy’s officials confirmed for The Star this week. Which makes what Wamego High School pulled off 50 years ago something of a miracle on 34th Street — performing in front of the famous department store in New York City on national TV.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Donald Trump’s EV tax credit takeback could undermine Panasonic’s DeSoto plant | Opinion
It’s the largest economic development project in Kansas history. All the numbers associated with the new Panasonic battery plant at DeSoto — scheduled to open early next year — are gigantic: Up to $4 billion in investment. As many as 4,000 new jobs. More than $800 million in tax credits from the state. Panasonic is expected to have a transformative effect on the region and the state. Anything less, in fact, would be a major disappointment. There’s just one problem: President-elect Donald Trump appears on track to undermine Panasonic’s work before it has even begun. Trump — as has been widely reported — is contemplating rescinding the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles. That probably would depress the American market for EVs: Sales could fall as much as 27% if the credit goes away. “You can’t make a vehicle $7,500 more expensive and sell more of them easily,” one analyst told The New York Times this week. “People are only willing to pay so much.”
Source: Wichita Eagle