Kansas Municipal News
Kansas Senate moves to restrain county appraisers
Senators in the Kansas Legislature on Tuesday embraced sweeping changes to restrain county appraisers and property valuations that increase local tax burdens.
The Senate passed legislation that would prohibit appraisers from increasing property valuations because of normal maintenance made to the property. They also couldn’t raise valuations while valuations are being appealed.
Other bills that received favor would mandate training for county appraisers and members of the State Board of Tax appeals and would ban someone from serving as county treasurer or appraiser if they previously had been removed from such a position.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Green light: Baxter Springs finally gets traffic signal at high school entrance
A decadeslong effort in Baxter Springs has finally come to a close now that the school district has obtained the installation of traffic lights at the entrance of Baxter Springs High School on Highway 69.
School officials got the green light Feb. 6 to have the traffic signal installed at the intersection of Military Avenue and Lion Pride Way on Highway 69.
(Read more: www.joplinglobe.com)
Want more property tax revenue? Local Kansas officials must vote, Senate says
Kansas homeowners have long complained of property tax bills that appear to grow year after year. Fueled by rising home values, the increases are a source of rising anger among residents.
The Legislature is moving closer to approving restrictions that would – at least in theory – make it easier for homeowners to fight future hikes.
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to prohibit local governments from growing the total amount of property tax revenue collected each year unless officials vote to do so. Localities would also have to hold a hearing for residents to air their views.
But in a nod to localities, the bill would also repeal a property tax lid they have strongly opposed since it was implemented in 2017. The lid, intended to limit tax hikes, was often undercut by exemptions and workarounds.
Read more: Wichita Eagle.
10-year muni yield falls below 1%
Fears about the COVID-19 virus continued to run rampant Tuesday, causing investors to resume selling off equities, resulting in municipal bond yields following Treasury yields down to all-time lows once again.
Muni were firm with a flattening bias along the yield curve following Monday’s price gains, according to Michael Pietronico, chief executive officer of Miller Tabak Asset Management. The gains “seemed to slow down the interest in the market today from participants who seem concerned with the low overall level of rates,” he said.
“We believe we are close to the bottom in yields and as such are more biased to buy defensive structures that perform relatively well should rates correct higher,” he said.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 25, 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.
Topeka aids homeless camp residents who are to be evicted
Topeka’s city government is helping residents of a North Topeka homeless camp prepare for their impending eviction, city manager Brent Trout said Tuesday.
The city’s Homeless Task Force and the Topeka/Shawnee County Crisis Intervention Team are helping the camp’s residents understand what is going to happen and what their options are, Trout said during the monthly news conference he holds with Mayor Michelle De La Isla.
“This won’t come as a surprise to them when it happens,” Trout said. “They’re going to be fully aware of what’s coming and the need for them to make a decision on where they’re going to move.”
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Salina terminates curbside recycle program
The city’s subscription curbside recycling will end on March 31 after Salina begins restructuring the fee schedule of and upgrading the sanitation collection system.
After much discussion, the Salina City Commission agreed the current system was not sustainable or cost effective with the upcoming collection system and terminated the service by a vote of 4-1.
The commission also voted to approve the purchase of new automated collection trucks which city staff said would impact the ability to continue the subscription service.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Will there be a new government center in downtown Wichita, or are costs too high?
Sedgwick County commissioners got their first look at a $45-$50 million plan to create a new government center and came away with sticker shock.
The proposal unveiled Tuesday is the latest in a years-long saga as the county tries to deal with the need for more governmental office space to free up space in the courthouse for courts.
The plan envisions a five-level building — four stories plus basement — that would be adjacent to and connected with the existing courthouse. The proposal is to clear space by tearing down part of an existing courthouse annex building just to the north of the main tower at the southwest corner of Main and Elm.
(Read more: Local News |)
Topeka Mayor calls upon community to support its children
In the wake of recent attacks on youngsters that were caught on video, Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla asked Tuesday that the people of this community proactively support its children.
“I’m calling all of us in our community, take a look at the children that we have around us, and let’s figure out a way that we can all support these kids and maybe these parents that may be working two or three jobs, or maybe the situation becomes that they don’t have a parent in the home to give them the example that they need to make the proper choices,” the mayor said.
She added: “This is our community. These are our kids. We must constantly be thinking of how to invest in our kids.”
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kansas Suicide Rates Are Climbing, Especially In The State’s Most Rural Areas
The number of suicides in northwest Kansas increased by more than half in recent years.
Twenty counties in the region saw suicides climb by 57% from 2014 through 2018.
That jump comes in a part of the state where people already die by suicide at a higher rate than in the rest of Kansas.
In Kansas “frontier” counties — places with fewer than six people per square mile — about 26 people a year out of every 100,000 die by suicide. Statewide, Kansas sees fewer than 18 suicides per 100,000 people, according to a report by the Kansas Health Institute
And overall, Kansas had 555 suicides in 2018, up 2% from the previous year. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the 2018 suicide rate was the highest in 20 years.
(Read more: Here)
Cellphone app to be available in Shawnee County to keep children safe
Keeping children safe is the purpose of a cellphone application that the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is arranging to have made available here.
Shawnee County Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays voted 3-0 Monday to acknowledge Sheriff Brian Hill had notified them that his office was paying $500 to Covington, La.-based OffenderWatch to provide “Virtual Safe Neighborhood” services in Shawnee County.
The Virtual Safe Neighborhood program will enable Shawnee County citizens to buy a smartphone application that will allow parents to know if a registered offender attempts to contact their child, Hill told commissioners last week in a memorandum.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Pott. County Commission discusses potential Manhattan sales tax; receives flu update
Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman commented on Manhattan City Commission discussions about taking on a city-wide sales tax during a meeting Monday.
If the city-sales tax were to become a reality, the Manhattan City Commission may no longer require the Riley County Commission’s approval before pursuing economic development projects on the Pottawatomie County side of the city.Weixelman says if this were to happen, the Pottawatomie County Commission should pursue an agreement where their approval is required for these types of projects.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Company says they’re ready to invest $1.5 billion in Wichita Riverfront, including Kansas’ first skyscraper
$1.5 billion in a proposed development in downtown Wichita… That’s the incredible amount of construction and growth a company is vowing to bring here, including a 40+ story hotel. So is it realistic? Or just pie in the sky?
Just for some perspective, the Epic Center is currently the tallest building in Kansas, standing 320 feet and 22 stories tall. The proposed hotel would nearly double that.
But that’s not the only thing the plan includes.
A company called Penumbra International LLC announced its plans to invest $1.5 billion in Wichita’s Riverfront.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Hutchinson woman speaks out after dog attack
A Hutchinson woman is out of the hospital after two dogs attacked her. While she is back home, her recovery is just beginning.
The bandages on Tina Stapleton’s legs are a reminder of what happened to her on Monday.
“I was a little terrified that they might do exactly what they were thinking about doing,” said Stapleton.
…
When police arrived, they tried to contain the dogs in the backyard. That’s when police said one of the dogs charged at an officer who fired one shot inuring the dog. Police said the dogs were a pit bull mix.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Kansas Senate moves to restrain county appraisers
Senators in the Kansas Legislature on Tuesday embraced sweeping changes to restrain county appraisers and property valuations that increase local tax burdens.
The Senate passed legislation that would prohibit appraisers from increasing property valuations because of normal maintenance made to the property. They also couldn’t raise valuations while valuations are being appealed.
Other bills that received favor would mandate training for county appraisers and members of the State Board of Tax appeals and would ban someone from serving as county treasurer or appraiser if they previously had been removed from such a position.
Additionally, public hearings and notices would be required for some local tax increases.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Unique bench installed at Starlight Park in Greensburg
A new bench installed at Greensburg’s Starlight Park last Saturday is approximately 7-feet-long and curved into the shape of a question mark. It is made out of carbide steel and painted with truck-bed liner paint to assure sustainability. The bench follows the path of the stars in the design used in other pieces with constellations cut out in the seat.
“We wanted a place where people could come and sit and enjoy things that are happening on Main Street, or just sit in peace and enjoy the artwork,” said Public Arts Committee (PAC) member Thomas Derstein.” “We wanted a bench that was a piece of artwork as well as a place to sit.”
(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 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.
Kansas lawmakers reject lower penalties on pot possession
ansas legislators aren’t ready to declare that marijuana possession never should be a felony, rejecting proposals Monday to lower penalties for third-time offenders and to release others from prison.
The House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee voted 7-4 against a bill that would make possessing marijuana a misdemeanor, no matter how many times someone was convicted. Kansas law currently says a third conviction is a felony that can be punished by up to 14 months in prison, though offenders often receive probation.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Pittsburg seeking city flag design submissions
The Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board is inviting the community to be a part of the town’s history.
The board has announced they are looking for design submissions for the city of Pittsburg’s flag.
The Southeast Kansas town has no record of ever having a flag.
The city has been working on its Imagine Pittsburg 2030 iniative, which pushes for growth and innovation in the community.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
How low can they go? Muni yields tumble, hit lows again
Municipal bonds yields continued their descent and once again rewrote the record books, as the flight-to-safety movement on fears of COVID-19 that took place Friday picked up right where it left off.
Stocks were down in excess of 3% at press time while Treasury yields sank further, as spooked investors fled risky assets, such as equities, into safer investments like municipal and Treasury bonds.
“How low can they go? That’s the real question,” said one New York trader. “We have gotten barely any positive news on containment, curing or stopping the virus. Until we do, this is going to be the reaction markets will have.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)