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Mission mail-in election asks residents to approve sales tax increase to fund road repairs — when and how to vote

Mission residents will soon have the chance to decide whether more sales tax money should go towards maintaining the city’s streets. The issue before voters: The city will hold a mail-in election in September asking voters whether to approve a slight increase in the city’s sales tax from one-quarter cent to three-eighths cent. The added revenue would be dedicated to repairing and improving road infrastructure in town. The city says this increase would put an estimated $950,000 more toward annual street maintenance.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T20:30:38-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Talk is heating up on a 3,000-acre solar panel farm along the Douglas-Johnson County line; it would power 40,000 homes

There really might be a 3,000-acre solar panel farm — the largest in the state — developing along the eastern edge of Douglas County in the near future. … Those are exactly the types of discussions that the planning commissions in both Douglas and Johnson counties have been having over the last several months, and it is clear that those discussions are being driven by the desire of a Florida-based energy company to build a large solar farm that would straddle parts of the border between Douglas and Johnson counties. Officials with NextEra Energy are actively planning for a project that would be several miles east of Baldwin City and would stretch from about North 700 Road to North 300 Road in Douglas County, according to a document submitted to the Johnson County Planning Commission.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T07:18:11-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Salina ordinance for emergencies heads to court, ballots

A petition asking for a new Salina city ordinance will move forward in two ways, at the ballot box and to court. The ordinance would limit the Salina City Commission in its ability to make decisions during declared state and county emergencies. The commission voted on two decisions related to the ordinance during its meeting Monday, one was to take the ordinance to a court for a judgement on its validity. Also during the meeting, the commission voted to send the ordinance to the Nov. 3 ballot as a referendum.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T07:06:16-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Kansas can enforce COVID-inspired limits on officials’ power

People who oppose mask requirements or restrictions on public gatherings imposed by Kansas counties can challenge them in court and obtain a ruling within 10 days — at least for now — because of a decision Tuesday by the state’s highest court. The Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling could discourage counties from imposing mask mandates to deal with the two-month surge in COVID-19 cases tied to the more contagious delta variant. Most local school boards aren’t directly affected but could hesitate to act as well. The court’s ruling also came the morning after Wichita’s school board voted to require anyone age 3 or older to wear a mask inside its buildings, starting Monday. While only a few counties have imposed mask mandates, at least 15 school districts that serve about a third of the state’s students have a requirement for at least some students or staff.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T07:00:54-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Wichita budget sets $15 minimum wage for city workers

The Wichita City Council finalized its $670 million annual budget Tuesday, setting a $15 minimum hourly wage for city employees and putting the Century II Performing Arts Center and the city’s golf system squarely on the path to privatization. The approval came after a final hearing where union leader Esau Freeman and Mayor Brandon Whipple traded shots over wages, and Save Century II activist Celeste Racette accused Whipple of being too deferential to developers and acting like a character from a Harry Potter novel. City staff originally projected a $10 million to $11 million shortfall because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that was before a $70 million infusion from the federal American Recovery Plan Act and unexpected increases in sales tax revenues.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T06:52:34-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 24, 2021

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 Financial2021-08-25T06:47:52-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Most of Kansas’ top 10 cities grew in population over decade

Eight of the 10 largest cities in Kansas grew in population over the past decade and now are home to nearly half of the state’s residents. New census figures show that 1.34 million of the state’s 2.9 million residents live in the 10 largest cities, or nearly 46%. That’s up 87,021 people or 7% from the 2010 population of 1.25 million. The two large cities that didn’t grow were Topeka, which lost 0.7% of its residents, down to 126,587, and Salina, where the population dropped 1.7% to 46,889. Topeka dropped from No. 4 to No. 5 in size, while Salina remained at No. 10. Olathe jumped from No. 5 to No. 4 by growing 12.3% to 141,290 residents. Lenexa jumped from No. 9 to No. 8 by growing 19.2% to 57,434 residents.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:43:12-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Limits to Kansas governor, health officials’ emergency powers restored — for now

Major revisions to the Kansas emergency management law, ruled unconstitutional last month by a Johnson County judge, will remain in place while the state Supreme Court considers an appeal. The Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s request that district court judge David Hauber’s ruling be stayed until the higher court made its decision. The stay follows more than a month of uncertainty in Kansas as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise and the power of local health officials and Gov. Laura Kelly was uncertain.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T07:01:57-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

State of Disaster Emergency issued for western Kansas wildfire

Governor Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency for a wildfire in Clark County. The Kansas Forest Service has been at the scene of the fire, and an agricultural pilot is helping with fire suppression over rough terrain. “Wildland fires can cause widespread destruction and present a very real threat to life and property,” Gov. Kelly said. “They destroy crops and grazing land, and may threaten homes and lives. This declaration will allow the state to use whatever resources we have available to mitigate the risks and respond to fires in support of local emergency responders.” “Our wildland fire staff and the aviation resources we work with are focused on supporting local resources on the ground in Clark County” said State Forester Jason Hartman. “Those firefighters on the ground are the first and best line of defense during a wildfire.”
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:26:00-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

After 50 COVID cases, 200 quarantines, Johnson County district toughens mask mandate

The Gardner-Edgerton district began the school year last week with a mask requirement for younger students, but not high schoolers. Now 50 students and staff have tested positive for the virus, and more than 200 have been required to quarantine. After one week of classes, the district is facing staffing issues due to a substitute teacher shortage, said Jody Marshall, human resources director. Given the trends in COVID-19 transmission, the school board voted 4-1 Monday night to mandate masks for all grade levels. “Last week reflects the worst COVID-related absenteeism, or positives and quarantines, since the first week in January. So that’s pretty significant in my mind, and it is having an impact on our staffing,” Marshall said.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:24:03-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Mission mail-in election asks residents to approve sales tax increase to fund road repairs — when and how to vote

Talk is heating up on a 3,000-acre solar panel farm along the Douglas-Johnson County line; it would power 40,000 homes

Salina ordinance for emergencies heads to court, ballots

Kansas can enforce COVID-inspired limits on officials’ power

Wichita budget sets $15 minimum wage for city workers

Municipal Bond Trends for August 24, 2021

Most of Kansas’ top 10 cities grew in population over decade

Limits to Kansas governor, health officials’ emergency powers restored — for now

State of Disaster Emergency issued for western Kansas wildfire

After 50 COVID cases, 200 quarantines, Johnson County district toughens mask mandate

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