Kansas Municipal News
Dodge City Commissioners to cut own salaries
Budget adjustments were the talk of the recent Dodge City commission meeting as it is estimated $3 million would be lost from the 2020 budget for the city.
According to city officials, city administration and staff are taking steps to adjust the budget in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with substantial cuts needing to be made to account for the shortfall in expected revenues.
“Even with all of the cuts on the expenditure side of the ledger, we were still short over $700,000 in cuts that needed to be made,” city manager Cherise Tieben said. “Because we function on very tight operational budgets already, hard decisions had to be made at the City Commission meeting.”
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
First cruise night a big hit in Hiawatha
Saturday’s Cruise Night in Hiawatha brought more action than local residents have seen downtown in a long time!
Oregon and First streets were packed with cars and trucks of all kinds and all years, with even a motorcycle or two thrown in. Local residents honked at other cars, or some residents sitting around the courthouse and on their porches of houses along the main drag. Everyone was all smiles and after a month of social distancing and a stay at home order, Hiawathans were ready to share the love! Organizers Steve Winters and Ryan Meininger said the event was great and they hope to plan another.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Municipal Bond Trends for April 24, 2020
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 and Beth Warren.
Municipal bonds on ‘fragile side of normalcy’ as benchmark yields rise but new deals get done
The secondary muni market was dislocated Friday with high-grade block trading showing swings in yields and rate volatility and price discovery remain problematic for investors and issuers alike. After a week of large issuers bringing sizable deals, Friday did not fully commit to a more stabilized muni market.
The news out of Washington did not help as headline risk clearly had participants questioning direction from D.C. on policies affecting the municipal market.
Triple-A benchmark yields rose by about five basis points across the curve.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Fed’s near-zero rates to last into 2023, economists predict
The Federal Reserve may hold interest rates near zero for three or more years, and its balance sheet will soar above $10 trillion as policymakers seek to revive the U.S. economy from recession, economists said in a Bloomberg survey. Just over half the 31 respondents to an April 20-23 poll predicted the target range for the federal funds rate, now at 0-0.25%, won’t move up until at least 2023. Another 22% said not before 2022. …
Respondents had limited expectations for any substantial changes when the Federal Open Market Committee holds its next policy meeting April 28-29. Large majorities, 90% and 87%, said they didn’t expect policy makers to offer any additional guidance on how long they intend to keep rates near zero, or on the future pace of large-scale asset purchases.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
What will ‘reopening’ look like in Wichita area during the coronavirus pandemic?
When the Wichita area reopens businesses shuttered for the coronavirus threat, things will look a lot different than they did before the pandemic hit, according to an array of business leaders who spoke to Sedgwick County Commission on Friday.
The special commission meeting brought together leaders from the retail, restaurant, convention, entertainment, fitness, tourism and religion realms.
The clock is ticking on the commissioners, who are poised to set guidelines for businesses if Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home executive order is allowed to expire in the coming week.
(Read more: Local News |)
Sedgwick County may have peaked on COVID-19, health officer says
Sedgwick County appears to have passed its peak for coronavirus infections, but there’s a long road back to normal, the county’s top doctor said Friday.
“Fortunately, the hospitals think they have seen the peak, although the peak is very flat,” said Garold Minns, dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. “They (local hospital administrators) are feeling good about the fact that we are not going to have a huge surge” of new COVID-19 cases.
(Read more: Local News |)
Reno County Health Department recommends use of cloth masks when out in public
Reno County Health Department joins Governor Laura Kelly, KDHE and CDC in recommending use of cloth face coverings when in public places. The recommendation is for cloth coverings, not N95 or surgical masks which are used by healthcare workers and first responders.
You can find instructions on how to make a cloth mask on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.
New evidence suggests that some people without COVID-19 symptoms can transmit the virus before getting sick. Using a cloth mask can help keep the virus from spreading from a person who may be infected and is not aware to others they are come in contact with. Wearing a mask should be used along with the following measures:
(Read more: Hutchinson, KS – News Flash)
New rules, same local flavor: Overland Park Farmers Market opens during pandemic
Much to the joy of thousands of customers, a seasonal mainstay found a way to open this weekend.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the Overland Park Farmers Market to open a few weeks late this year and in an entirely new location. However, the market is now set up and running in the north parking lot of the Overland Park Convention Center.
The location provides the crowds with lots of room for social distancing. It’s not much like the weekend morning party it used to be, but the vendors are still full of produce, lines of masked customers ecstatically exchanging money for radishes, strawberries, lettuce and flowers.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Pandemic not expected to delay property tax deadline
The coronavirus pandemic does not appear to be delaying the quickly approaching May 10 deadline for Kansas property taxes.
Kansas believes delaying property tax deadlines is more of a local government decision, said Zach Fletcher, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Revenue.
“Property taxes collected at the local and county level help fund critical functions like public safety and schools,” Fletcher told the Lawrence Journal-World. “The governor cannot unilaterally change property tax structures or payments in general, and would not be inclined to cut critical funding sources during a prolonged public health emergency.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Dodge City commissioners give up salaries to help with budget shortfall
The city commissioners in Dodge City say they are facing an estimated loss of nearly $3 million from the 2020 budget because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The city says they expect a shortfall in sales tax, property tax, interest, transient guest tax and franchise fees. The commissioners say substantial cuts will be needed to make up for the lost revenue.
During their meeting Monday night, the commissioners said the first priority should be eliminating their salaries for 2020.
“We didn’t get in this for the pay,” said Commissioner Kent Smoll. “We got into this because we really appreciate the City. There’s not going to be much savings, I understand. But it’s partly the principle. We are asking employees to give things up; I want to give up that.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
’Perfect positive storm’: Studies show Topeka well-positioned to recover from recession
Topeka’s metropolitan area is among the least vulnerable in the nation to the economic damage wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to two recent studies.
Meanwhile, the WalletHub personal finance website says Kansas is likely to suffer less economically from the pandemic than all other states but one.
Those findings reinforce Matt Pivarnik’s optimism that Topeka will quickly regain the momentum it had gained prior to COVID-19, he said in a telephone interview Friday.
“Quite frankly, I look forward to recovery,” said Pivarnik, president and CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “I think that Topeka’s going to be able to have a resilient recovery, and potentially even leapfrog other communities as we return to our new normal.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Cruising Main will return
For Scott Becker of McPherson, climbing into his Ford Mustang and cruising down main street on a Saturday night brings back days gone by.
“I used to drag main here in the ’80s and ’90s. My boys are 17 and 20 and over the summer hang out at Lakeside park. They never knew what cruising main was. I believe it’s a generation gap and was lost throughout the years,” Becker said.
And, he believed it was a tradition that should be rekindled. A year ago, he started posting to Facebook, creating a page for photos that he called “Old Farts Drag Main.”
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
Hays: No plans for layoffs, cutting services
Despite the COVID-19 hit to the economy, there are no plans to lay off City of Hays employees or to cut city services to the community, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.
“We’re not there yet, and it’s really not something I’ve considered right now,” Dougherty said of employee layoffs or furloughs. “It would be a rationary measure that comes later on. I can’t see enough of a revenue decline that we couldn’t absorb and move forward … worse-case scenario we’d have to put a hiring freeze in place.”
Speaking to the Hays City Commission at its regular meeting Thursday in City Hall, 1507 Main, Dougherty said it’s possible the city might not fill positions that come open when people retire or quit to downsize by turnover.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
DRC, DAC looking to spread positivity through art
At the moment, with the Derby Recreation Center shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of DRC Art Director Aimee Geist’s focus has been on preparations for summer programs at the new Hubbard Arts Center.
While not many DRC art programs have gone virtual yet, Geist has been working on a new project with the Derby Arts Council – to launch in May – that is seeking to engage the community and spread an important message.
“One of the things we’ve been working on is a sidewalk chalk project called the Positivity Art Project,” Geist said
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Scenic byways lets you see Kansas’ best landscape from the safety of your car
Kathy Artzer knows people can abide by social distancing requirements while still feeding their need for adventure. Annually she leaves her Topeka home and drives several of Kansas’ scenic byways.
“(The byways) have taken me to some places I didn’t even know we had in Kansas,” Artzer said. “They’ve taken me to some really beautiful places. I think they’re a great way to explore the state.”
Sue Stringer, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism byways manager, said Kansas has 12 recognized byways.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Financial challenges ahead for Pratt Community College
Financial challenges lie ahead for all educational institutions including Pratt Community College. Kent Adams, PCC vice president of finance and operations, shared some numbers with the PCC Trustees at their April 13 meeting.
“We’re going to have financial challenges,” Adams said.
College finances are already in place through June 30 but beyond that, there are many questions.
First of all, the county is going to lose $3 million in valuation for oil and gas. Other valuations went up but the overall loss is $3 million.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Crawford County makes plans for input on new coronavirus rules
Though it remains unclear whether the statewide stay-at-home order will expire by the end of next week, Crawford County officials continue to make plans for what kind of policy the county will implement if it does. Since announcing it would hear input from area businesses and the public on that decision earlier in the week, the county commission on Friday made changes to the schedule of when that input session will take place, and said it will be done via radio on Pittsburg State University-affiliated KRPS (89.9 FM) next Thursday, with the opportunity for businesses to submit questions beforehand. “We had talked about next Wednesday doing some sort of a call with the businesses in the county but it’s been pushed to Thursday, which will give us a little more time if the governor puts something out,” County Health Officer Rebecca Adamson said Friday. “We still don’t know how long that might take.”
(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)
Reno County Economic Recovery Task Force begins discussion on reopening
The Reno County Economic Recovery Task Force on Friday (April 24) outlined goals detailed efforts underway toward reopening the local economy.
The statewide stay-at-home order currently is in effect until May 3. While that could extend, the task force in Reno County shares a goal to “establish guidelines for reopening our local economy with the aim to have a skeleton framework to present to the county commission on the event that the statewide stay-at-home order is lifted.”
The task force says it expects to roll out some “wins” on May 4 (following the current May 3 expiration date on the statewide stay-at-home order. What these “wins” might include isn’t yet clear, but the task force says “there is great hope that we can begin to at least (do) a few things on May 4 that we can’t do now. The goal is to formulate that this next week.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Cluster testing continues in Ford County
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced this week two private businesses in Dodge City that showed a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
As described by KDHE, a cluster “is two or more confirmed cases associated to one known exposure.”
With cluster testing rising, confirmed cases come with it as Ford County cases reached 350 on Friday, topping Sedgwick County’s 323 and putting Ford County third highest in the state behind Wyandotte and Johnson County.
Seward County also reached a case of total of 232 with Finney County reaching 107.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)