Report: Kansas is getting more transparent with its economic development incentives

A transparency law passed by the Kansas Legislature in 2019 has boosted the state’s score on a national list that grades transparency around economic development incentive awards. Kansas is among the most improved states on this year’s ranking from Good Jobs First, a nonprofit research center that promotes accountability in economic development. Kansas moved up 30 spots on the list, landing 15th out of 50 states with a score of 28.8 out of 100. “Kansas Commerce prides itself on disclosing to a great extent the companies attracted to our state, and those thriving in our state, as the result of these programs,” said Paul Hughes, Kansas Department of Commerce deputy secretary, in an email to the WBJ. “We do this with the desire to serve the taxpayer with the expectation that we not disclose information that would (be) proprietary or sensitive in nature for competitors.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-06T07:13:15-05:00April 6, 2022|News|

What Russia’s war in Ukraine means for Kansas farmers

Together, Russia and Ukraine supply more than a quarter of the world’s wheat, and are also substantial producers of barley, corn and other grains. With war threatening to cut off international shipments of wheat, economists predict it could push up demand and prices for wheat grown in other parts of the globe. “This is probably the most impactful crisis we’ve had probably since World War II, simply because this has the potential to disrupt trade patterns for quite a long time,” said Allen Featherstone, head of the department of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. “Part of it is just going to be in terms of where the infrastructure damage is, especially in the southern part of Ukraine.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-06T07:14:41-05:00April 6, 2022|News|

Johnson County will reconsider proposed solar farm regulations critics say are too restrictive

After a four-hour public hearing of speakers solidly in support of solar energy development, the Johnson County Commission voted to send proposed solar farm regulations back to the county planning commission with suggestions that would make them less restrictive. … The county planning department began working on the regulations for large-scale solar farms about a year ago, after learning Florida-based NextEra Energy was interested in building an array of panels in western Johnson County and eastern Douglas County. The county did not have any rules for solar farms yet, and planners needed them on the books before any applications for specific projects could be considered.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T07:38:23-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Lawrence to reconsider policy that requires most homeowners to pay for sidewalk repairs

Lawrence city leaders are set to discuss the city’s controversial sidewalk policy that generally requires property owners, not the city, to pay for repairs to sidewalks bordering their homes and businesses. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a staff presentation about the city’s sidewalk repair policy and related financial assistance program, and respond to commissioners’ questions regarding potential policy changes, according to a city staff memo to the commission. … the commission will discuss the origin of the current policy that was adopted in 2018, the subsequent implementation of the program in 2019, and changes to the program that have been made over the past couple of years. The city’s long-standing ordinance requiring all property owners to pay to repair the sidewalks running along their property had not been fully enforced for decades, and the policy and related program were intended to begin enforcing the ordinance.
Source: LJWorld.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T07:35:42-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

The history of Arma on display in Southeast Kansas

People are getting a look at the history behind one Southeast Kansas community. The Miner’s Hall Museum has opened its second quarterly exhibit titled “Little Balkans Coal Camp – Arma.” Before it was incorporated in 1909, Arma was formerly known as Rust, Armiton and Armacost. The exhibit will feature three presentations over three months. They will feature stories of Arma, its French cookies and the history behind the longest held WWII homecoming.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T07:25:35-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Some policy issues unresolved: Legislators debated past midnight before leaving Topeka

Kansas lawmakers left Topeka Saturday morning after advancing a rash of bills but without acting on some major pieces of legislation. … Legislators failed to pass the K-12 budget, opting to save the bill for when they return for veto session. … Tax policymakers repackaged dozens of proposals into three bills: one just on the food sales tax (HB 2106), another with smaller or less controversial tax cuts (HB 2239) and a third with larger or more controversial positions (HB 2597). Only HB 2239, a compilation of 29 different bills, was taken up by both chambers. It passed with bipartisan support. It would cut taxes by an estimated $91 million in fiscal year 2023, $100 million in 2024 and $120 million in 2025. The new food sales tax plan is not as aggressive as Kelly and fellow Democrats have pushed for. They wanted to axe the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries to zero, starting July 1. The plan negotiated by Republicans would gradually cut the rate to zero over three years, with the first cut to 4% not coming until Jan. 1.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T07:05:15-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 4, 2022

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.

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T06:59:29-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Prairie Village housing panel says city needs to be ‘part of solution’ to metro’s rising costs

Johnson County suburbs like Prairie Village need to “opt in” to being part of a metrowide solution to rising housing costs and inequities in home ownership. That was one of the key messages delivered at a special panel discussion on housing in Prairie Village Sunday, which continued the city’s ongoing conversations around attainable housing and diversity. The panel discussion, entitled “Housing in Prairie Village—Past, Present and Future” was part of an almost two-year-long effort by the city of Prairie Village to address housing and diversity issues. In surveys and in public meetings in recent years, Prairie Village residents — and Johnson Countians more generally — have consistently reported housing costs as one of their biggest concerns.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T01:24:33-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Signals point to retail return to munis, for now

Municipals were steady to firmer in spots Monday, while U.S. Treasuries strengthened inside five years but key parts of the curve remained inverted while equities ended in the black. Triple-A municipal yield curves were relatively stable, while the two-, three-, five- and seven-year UST were still sitting above the 10- and 30-year. More activity surfaced in the municipal market on Monday as the first full week of the second quarter got underway and after last week ended with more of a bid from retail accounts. “We have seen some pretty good situations coming out on the longer end; the maturities have a firmer tone compared to last week,” a New York trader said Monday afternoon. The overall appetite for municipal bonds, he said, picked up noticeably at the end of last week.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T01:22:14-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

Lawrence businesses ready to face KU crowds

Downtown Lawrence bars said this is one of their busiest days of the year and they’re ready to face the big crowds on Mass St. While they were preparing for the crowd, people waited in line for hours until the bars opened. “I got out here at 10:30 and I was the third person in line,” KU fan Jacki Becker said. The bars anticipated the madness after the turnout they had during Saturday’s game when the Jayhawks beat Villanova. Sean Donnely at Louise’s in Downtown said they over prepare for a day like this.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T01:20:39-05:00April 5, 2022|News|