County Commissioners allocate $25,000 in ARPA funds to each city

Each city is eligible to receive up to $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds through the county following recent action taken by the Jackson County Commission. The commissioners agreed to allocate $25,000 in ARPA funding to each of the nine cities in the county. The county has received $1,279,156 in ARPA funding from the federal government, so far, and is expected to receive another $1,279,156 in July totaling $2,558,312. Previously, ARPA funds could only be spent on COVID-19 response, bonuses for essential workers and investing in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure, it was reported. A recent ruling was approved, however, that allow counties to use the funds more broadly.
Source: Holton Recorder

Ranson Financial2022-02-18T08:11:48-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Overland Park officials worry city could lose millions in annual tax revenue with Walmart ‘dark store’ win

If the Kansas Supreme Court rules against Johnson County in its appeal of a lower court’s ruling on how to appraise Walmart stores’ properties, it likely won’t be a budget killer right away for Overland Park, said City Manager Bill Ebel. But he cautions that future structural changes that upset the balance of property tax, sales tax and user fees collections could be “concerning” in the long run. Ebel recently said that a “substantial portion” of the estimated $1.5 million the city might have to refund due to the ongoing Walmart case has already been set aside in a liability account, should the court rule in favor of the retail giant.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T22:43:03-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

City of Overland Park sets five-year plan for public safety improvements

The city of Overland Park has set a five-year lineup for public safety capital improvements. At last week’s Public Safety Committee meeting, councilmembers reviewed the city’s projected costs for public safety improvements budgeted for 2023 through 2027. The committee approved the five-year projections for recommendation to the city council’s Committee of the Whole, which handles budgets and capital improvements. The five-year plan includes capital improvements — which typically encompass new facilities or fixes to existing ones — along with some maintenance repairs and recurring costs for the city’s Fire and Police departments.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-02-18T08:12:46-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Eliminating Kansas’ food sales tax may be pushed to 2024

Kansans may not see a total elimination of the state’s hefty food sales tax until 2024, under a new Senate proposal. The Senate Tax committee unanimously approved a bill with a long list of changes. One of those changes would set the date for the plan to go into effect to January 1, 2024. That’s about one year later than anticipated from some democrats, who expected the timeframe to be much sooner. Senator Ethan Corson, a democrat from Fairway, who sits on the committee, told Kansas Capitol Bureau on Wednesday that he’s hoping there will be room for negotiation once the bill moves to the floor. “Part of the conversation should this bill get to the floor will be about what the right implementation date is,” Corson said. “I would favor an implementation date of June of this year.”
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T22:38:23-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Chetopa hires extra assistance for snow removal

Ahead of the winter storms that dropped inches of snow in Labette County earlier this month, the Chetopa City Council on Feb. 1 gave approval to hire extra help for snow removal. The council approved a contract with Anthony Conard on an as needed basis to remove snow for the city at a rate of $80 per hour. The city will contact Conard if it needs help with snow removal when weather warrants it. The city council also agreed to pay city employees a maximum of up to five days for work-related exposure or a positive COVID-19 test.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-02-18T08:13:47-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Study: America’s economy has seen talent ‘shift’ to heartland over the last decade

America’s economy has seen a “shift” in workforce talent from coastal cities to the country’s heartland over the last decade, according to a new study. The study, conducted by Heartland Forward, a think tank with a focus on economic renewal, analyzed more than 350 metropolitan areas across the country and measured each metro area’s workforce by two metrics: educational attainment and the number of workers in creative occupations. Heartland’s study found a marked shift in talent between 2010 and 2019 away from traditional talent hubs such as New York City and San Francisco toward states such as Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T22:34:27-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

KwiKom wants to bring broadband to Paola

Faster and more reliable internet for residents and businesses in northern Paola soon could be available if the city and KwiKom Communications are able to obtain a state grant. Paola City Council members received an update on the plan during their Feb. 8 meeting. Acting Interim City Manager Randi Shannon said KwiKom Communications has identified Paola as an ideal community for the Kansas Office of Broadband Development Acceleration Grant. The 50-50 state grant also allows for up to a 50 percent co-investment of the matching funding. Therefore, KwiKom asked the city of Paola for a co-investment commitment of $250,000, which is 25 percent of the project’s $1 million total.
Source: The Miami County Republic

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T22:29:10-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Merriam moves ahead with plan to redesign key downtown corridor

The city of Merriam approved a nearly $450,000 design contract with BHC Engineering for work along Merriam Drive in downtown, from Johnson Drive to 55th Street. … The design scope includes the portion of Merriam Drive from Johnson Drive to 55th Street, which runs directly through the city’s downtown area. While this is simply the design contract, the final project when completed aims to bring new curb and gutters, sidewalks, pavement and bike lanes to that stretch.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2022-02-18T08:14:50-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 16, 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 Financial2022-02-17T10:20:12-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

A few Kansas jails are finally allowing medical care for opioid addiction

A recent decision to let people continue treatment for drug addiction while in the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita reflects a significant shift in thinking at Kansas sheriffs’ offices that is gaining momentum. Sedgwick officials no longer take people off of their prescriptions for medications such as buprenorphine when booked into jail. No one keeps a tally of how many Kansas jails allow incarcerated people with opioid or alcohol addictions to receive the combination of medication and counseling that can help them. But nationally, only a fraction of jails do so, researchers say. Sedgwick’s joins at least a few other Kansas jails that do so, including Crawford County’s in southeast Kansas.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T00:08:10-06:00February 17, 2022|News|