Kansas Municipal News
Hutchinson, Reno County brace for financial impact of COVID-19
A $1.3 million deficit is what the city of Hutchinson is now facing with sales tax revenue down. Starting Sunday, the city will cut overtime for police officers and implement voluntary furloughs. If the budget doesn’t get better by June, the city could cut salaries and do long-term furloughs and layoffs.
Reno County will slash more than $1 million from the budget. …Each department will lose between $1,000 and $120,000. They’ll save money by not filling open positions and not buying cars.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Phillipsburg approves loans for local hotels
To help the local hotels through the current economic downturn, the Phillipsburg City Council approved at their regular Monday meeting to offer $2,500 loans to the community’s three hotels. The interest-free loans are being offered with an 18-month term and will be funded from the city’s Industrial Development Fund (IDF). The IDF is funded by 1 mill annually and can only be spent on economic development that will benefit the city.
(Read more: Phillipsburg, KS)
Legislative session delayed, two-thirds of lawmakers at risk of contracting virus
The Kansas Legislature’s leadership postponed resumption of the session Wednesday to protect two-thirds of lawmakers considered at risk of being infected with COVID-19, a decision likely to compel Gov. Laura Kelly to issue a new statewide emergency declaration and potentially jeopardize millions of dollars in federal aid.
Lawmakers were scheduled to reconvene April 27, but concern about undermining health of House and Senate members led the bipartisan Legislative Coordinating Council to abandon that plan. The LCC voted unanimously to delay a decision on resumption of work at the Capitol to no later than May 6. The governor’s overarching emergency declaration for Kansas will expire May 1.
House Speaker Ron Ryckman and Senate President Susan Wagle, two Republicans on the LCC, said the governor could retain all her emergency authority by issuing a new disaster declaration. The process doesn’t allow her to simply extend the existing order.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Wyandotte County facing huge budget shortfall as many businesses remain closed
The coronavirus shut downs are hitting people’s pockets hard.
In Wyandotte County, the Unified Government is facing a $15-20 million budget shortfall due in part to all the business closures.
From the empty streets, parking lots and stores, the Legends almost looks like a ghost town.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Cities discuss summer programs
The Hiawatha City Commission held its second virtual meeting on Monday evening, and the group spoke with Parks and Recreation Director Stacy Jasper about the status of summer sports and programs, given the extension of the stay-at-home order to May 3 in Kansas.
Jasper said she has been in contact with other local recreation departments, and does not intend to cancel summer activities like some others have done unless it becomes definitively necessary.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Marion County weighs hiring administrator
County commissioners once again discussed hiring an administrator, with support from Goessel resident Mark Voth, Hillsboro city councilman Kevin Suderman, and county commission chairman Jonah Gehring. Voth said an administrator can spend hours doing detailed research on a subject and present the facts to the commission for a decision, which would allow shorter commission meetings and better decisions.
“I see all this time and energy spent on just putting water on things,” Voth said. “I see an administrator as giving you time to vision for the county.”
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Municipal Bond Trends for April 21, 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.
Overland Park farmers market to open Saturday — but customers won’t leave their cars
Overland Park is planning to open its farmers market this weekend. But worried about large crowds spreading the novel coronavirus, officials said shoppers will be restricted to their cars.
The city was planning to open the market for the season earlier this month — with fewer vendors and a move to a nearby parking lot — but decided to postpone it after several residents complained that the event could lead to more cases of COVID-19. Now, officials announced the market will open in drive-thru format on Saturday in a different location.
Like grocery stores, farmers markets are considered essential operations under metrowide stay-at-home orders. The City Market downtown and Brookside Farmers Market never closed. But many Johnson County cities have postponed their markets as the coronavirus outbreak continues.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
COVID-19 shutdown slows some major Johnson County construction projects, but not all
Even with construction considered an “essential service” under COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, major development projects across Johnson County are facing setbacks or coming to a halt.
With major public and private projects in the works — including new housing, entertainment complexes, sports amenities, a courthouse and community centers — leaders had expected 2020 to be another year of strong growth in the booming Kansas City suburbs.
Now, from the Interstate 35 expansion to the long-awaited Mission Gateway development, crews are struggling to finish projects due to a shortage of supplies and strict social distancing requirements. Some developers have decided that operating during this time is too risky to employees’ health, shutting down work sites completely.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Demand for municipal bonds is reemerging, as new issues see ‘decent’ demand
Trading in the secondary market saw AAA benchmark yields rise by three to five basis points but the primary market showed signs of life with several larger new deals getting done at appropriate levels given current market conditions as the coronavirus continues to ravage state and local credit quality. The municipal market weakened a little but that did not prevent new issue deals from coming in and pricing, as demand for the asset class seems to be gaining steam.
Meanwhile, more issuers are opting to go the private placement route. …
“I think buyers are finally starting to get comfortable at the new levels which we are at,” said one New York trader. “The deals today saw decent demand, which should give the rest of this week’s issues renewed optimism.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Hutchinson braces for financial impact of covid-19 crisis
The City of Hutchinson’s General Fund Balance is projected to decline by $1.3M for the remainder of 2020 largely due to a drop in sales tax revenue in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. City Manager John Deardoff, working closely with department heads, has developed a measured approach to addressing the inevitable financial impact.
“We are fortunate to have a strong fund balance, which we have made a priority in recent years. While that exists for unexpected downturns like this, it would be irresponsible to rely solely on that reserve while so many others in our community are tightening their belts,” Deardoff said. “That fund will absorb some of the impact, but we want to make sure to maintain some cushion for the future.”
Phase I was implemented on March 30 and included a reduction of seasonal labor and a hiring freeze in select departments.
(Read more: Hutchinson, KS – News Flash)
Wichita council votes to delay action on deputy position for Wichita mayor
Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple wants to create a position of “deputy to the mayor” or a chief of staff similar to support positions for mayors in comparable cities. He said the position would help with policy research, community outreach, working with city department heads and engaging in efforts to increase transparency and accountability.
After a lengthy discussion during their meeting Tuesday, the city council voted unanimously to hold off on a decision until city manager Robert Layton completes a staffing study. That study should be complete by the end of June.
Whipple said there was a previous position of executive assistant to the mayor, and he wanted to reinstate that position to provide assistance and support to the mayor and city council. He said previous positions have left out some major areas of responsibility.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Wichita City Council tables proposal to hire deputy mayor
The Wichita City Council at its meeting Tuesday tabled a proposal to hire an assistant for Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. The mayor wants to establish a deputy mayor position.
The person holding that job would help the mayor research policy and meet with council members, City of Wichita department heads and stakeholders. Whipple says previous Wichita mayors have had similar help and believes establishing the assistant position could improve transparency at City Hall.
Some of Whipple’s critics on the proposal say the city is going through an uncertain time and should not consider adding new staff. Other criticism touches on Whipple’s salary, indicating he’s paid enough to fulfill his responsibilities himself.
The city council could reconsider the issue concerning the proposal for deputy mayor in Wichita at a later date.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Grant program created to help nonprofits
Building on the success of Rally Reno, organizers are expanding the program to help local nonprofits, which face their own challenges during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Hutchinson Community Foundation has allocated $75,000 in donor-advised funds to match with local donations to create a new Nonprofit Response Grant program, explained Aubrey Abbott Patterson, the foundation’s executive director.
The program seeks to partner directly with nonprofits, providing “rapid response grants” to support and build on their services.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Shawnee County restrictions to fight COVID-19 to be relaxed in phases
Within “a day or two” after a statewide stay-at-home order is lifted, Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino anticipates he will allow the reopening of most businesses here that were ordered closed to fight the spread of COVID-19, he said Tuesday.
“We want to send people back to work,” Pezzino said during a podcast on CJOnline.com.
He indicated local health officials plan to work in stages to remove the various restrictions currently in place.
“There’s going to be several steps in 14-day increments that can only happen if nothing bad really takes place in the previous period,” he said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sedgwick County gets nearly $100 million for coronavirus fight; but how to spend it?
Sedgwick County will get nearly $100 million to aid in the local battle against coronavirus COVID-19, county commissioners were told Tuesday.
The money, $99.6 million, will come from recent federal action in Washington, Assistant County Counselor Kevin Stamper told the commissioners at a staff meeting conducted online.
The first half of the money is expected to arrive into the county’s bank account “imminently, sometime this week, potentially,” said County Manager Tom Stolz.
(Read more: Local News |)
Grants offered to local businesses in Valley Center
A nonprofit organization is offering financial assistance to businesses in Valley Center that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ark Valley News reported.
Main Street Valley Center’s board of directors started a grant program April 13 that allows locally owned businesses to apply for up to $300 in direct support. The grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocated funds, $9,000, are used up.
The board streamlined the application process too, asking applicants to briefly describe how the social-distancing and stay-at-home orders have affected their businesses. Some shops in Valley Center were forced to shut down because they were deemed nonessential in Sedgwick County’s stay-at-home order. To fund the relief grant, Main Street Valley Center put its Main Street Enhancement Grant program on hold. The Main Street Enhancement Grant program assists businesses that want to improve the appearance of their buildings. Main Street Valley Center is also postponing planned spring and summer activities.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Johnson County creates recovery task force
April 20 the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners authorized the creation of a Recovery Planning Task Force to strategize and implement a phased approach to reopen the economy.
“We recognize and appreciate the serious sacrifices that Johnson County residents have made to flatten the curve, and we also understand the significant economic challenges that businesses and individuals have sustained,” said Ed Eilert, chairman. “We are working on phased plans to restore our economy.”The task force will include many sectors in the economy representing a broad section of Johnson County. The makeup of this task force includes:
• Johnson County Board of County Commissioners representatives
• Johnson County government (Public Health, Emergency Management, County Manager)
(Read more: Gardner News)
Law enforcement asks people to follow social distancing rules while protesting stay at home orders
Local law enforcement is asking people to remember social distancing rules if they’re planning to protest this week.
A group of people said they’re planning to hold a rally in Topeka this Thursday at the Capitol and our local officers said they’re prepared.
The goal of the protest is to express frustration with the governor’s stay at home order.
Lieutenant Adam Winters with the Kansas Highway Patrol said people have a right to peacefully protest, but they have to follow the executive order that requires social distancing.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Johnson County Museum launches regional effort to document COVID-19 experience; Comanche Elementary’s Josiah Enyart receives $1,000 for math education
In an effort to capture this unprecedented time and the impact of coronavirus on the community, the Johnson County Museum is collecting COVID-19 related items to include with the museum’s exhibits. The museum has also launched an online form where people can share their COVID-19 experience.
Residents can visit JCPRD.com/collecting to complete the online form, where they can include a description of their story, photograph, and/or object. The form includes prompts asking participants to share what they miss and appreciate during this time, what their new “normal” looks like, the impact on schooling and businesses, and what objects define this time for them.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)