Kansas governor proposes to set aside $600M, spend reserves

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has proposed that Kansas put $600 million of its surplus revenue into a rainy day fund and spend nearly $1.8 billion of the excess revenue on a long list of projects. Parts of Kelly’s proposed spending blueprint for state government through June 2023 are likely to meet strong resistance from the Republican-controlled Legislature. It assumes that Kansas will expand its Medicaid coverage, which GOP lawmakers have repeatedly blocked, and give a one-time $250 income tax rebate to residents who filed state income tax returns last year. Before Kelly’s budget director outlined her proposals to a joint meeting of the House and Senate budget committees Wednesday, Republicans suggested that the state’s good economic fortunes could sour quickly.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2022-01-14T07:36:19-06:00January 14, 2022|News|

Supreme Court blocks OSHA vaccine or test mandates

The Supreme Court has stopped the Biden administration from enforcing a requirement that employees at large businesses be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask on the job. At the same time, the court is allowing the administration to proceed with a vaccine mandate for most health care workers in the U.S.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-01-14T00:02:54-06:00January 14, 2022|News|

More details released for Governor Kelly’s proposed state budget

Governor Laura Kelly is proposing that Kansas set aside $600 million of its surplus revenues in a rainy day fund and spend nearly $1.8 billion more in cash reserves on a host of one-time projects. The Democratic governor’s budget director on Wednesday outlined proposed spending blueprint for state government through June 2023 to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s budget committees. The projects Kelly proposed in her spending blueprint for state government through June 2023 included paying off bonds early and undoing financial maneuvers lawmakers did in previous years to deal with budget shortfalls. She’s also proposing a one-time rebate of $250 to all Kansans who filed state income tax returns last year.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-01-14T00:01:05-06:00January 14, 2022|News|

Vandalism of Wichita parks puts other projects on hold

The City of Wichita said that every time it has to make repairs from vandalism, it has to use money that was supposed to go to other projects. It is becoming a more significant concern because of the increase in destruction at city parks. Thursday morning, Troy Houtman, Wichita Parks and Recreation director, said the costs are adding up. For example, someone damaged a control panel at a Aley Park. Part of the panel was knocked off the wall. Houtman said they will have to pay $5,000 to replace it. Vandals also broke into the building at the swimming pool in the Park. They trashed the inside of the place and left behind a big mess.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T23:59:02-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

‘It would just be a battle’: Wichita-area leaders avoid COVID restrictions amid surge

As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations top record numbers in Wichita, local officials say there isn’t enough public support to issue any public health orders aimed at slowing the spread. The Sedgwick County Commission and Wichita City Council signaled this week that they will instead continue encouraging people to get vaccinated, a long-term strategy that would do little to slow the current surge, as most COVID-19 vaccines aren’t considered fully effective until five or six weeks after the first dose (two weeks after the second dose).
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T23:57:39-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

Parsons Registered Offender Program begins

The Parsons Police Department has launched a new program to keep registered offenders in compliance with their required conditions of release or sentencing. In late 2021, the department’s officers became concerned after an audit of registered offenders in Parsons found 44% in violation of registration requirements. Acting Commander Kyle Wiford developed what would become the Parsons Registered Offender Program. Wiford worked with selected patrol officers, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and the Labette County Attorney’s Office to develop the process and procedures for PROP.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T23:54:21-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

Lenexa will prioritize certain homes for popular exterior grant program reimbursing improvements

The city of Lenexa is revising its increasingly popular exterior grant program to prioritize home projects most in need of improvements. After expanding the city’s exterior grant program from a few select neighborhoods to citywide, Lenexa is now revising the program in order to reduce the number of eligible applicants and focus program funding on older homes and those with lower appraised values in order to make the biggest impacts on neighborhoods. In 2021, the city funded 11 of the 356 exterior grant applications it received, according to a city memo. In turn, the program generated more than $100,000 in investment in single-family homes.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T23:50:53-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

Lawrence Public Schools considering closing several schools in proposed scenarios

Multiple school closings were proposed by the Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee Wednesday in an attempt to lessen an impending budget crisis. Executive Director of Data and Technology Zach Conrad presented four scenarios, each of which involves closing or repurposing at least two schools at the elementary and middle school levels. So far, these scenarios are still just ideas for the school board to consider – the school board will ultimately make decisions moving forward. Kathy Johnson, executive director of finance for the district, said the school board should publish proposals and host public hearings by the Feb. 14 board meeting, and make decisions on closures in late March or early April.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T23:43:59-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

Commission adopts commercial wind regulations for unzoned portions of Reno County

The Reno County Commission Tuesday finally adopted new regulations for the development of commercial wind turbines in the county after 18 months of debate. The board then voted to create a new countywide overlay zone that will apply those regulations to parts of the county that are otherwise not zoned. The commission previously voted to ban commercial wind development in the fully-zoned portions of the county.
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2022-01-13T07:31:46-06:00January 13, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 12, 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 Financial2022-01-13T07:20:12-06:00January 13, 2022|News|