A Kansas bill would expand a rural workforce recruitment tool, address housing issues

A bill before Kansas legislators Wednesday would extend and revamp a state program providing financial incentives to those moving to rural areas struggling with workforce retention. The Rural Opportunity Zones program provides designated counties an opportunity to offer income tax credits and student loan repayments in an effort to reverse population decline. Previously, these zones were decided by population loss, but under House Bill 2341 any county with a population of less than 35,000 would qualify. This would expand the program by 16 counties, bringing the total qualifying counties to 93. … a 2020 study indicated 30 counties did not commit any resources to the program and 80% of student loan recipients would have moved to the county regardless. While the study indicated the program has not reversed population decline as expected, supporters of the program believe a lack of incentive does not mean it has failed.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:29:34-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Does Wichita need a leash law for cats? A city board is considering it

A city board is considering a leash law for Wichita cats to reduce the number of felines running wild. Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board member Richard Ruth has proposed a city ordinance change that would make it illegal to let a cat roam the neighborhood, with penalties including a fine and sterilizing and microchipping the cat. The proposal would also limit the number of cats a person can own at four and require owners to annually license their cats and vaccinate against rabies.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:30:14-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Kansas launches program to help residents with rent. payments, utility bills

The state of Kansas has launched a new program designed to help individuals and families financially impacted by COVID-19 pay rent, utility and internet bills. The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program is being run by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). “Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses – and ensuring they have access to the high-speed internet needed for telehealth, telework, and virtual school – has been a top priority for my administration since day one.” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a news release. “This program will be critical in ensuring Kansans can stay secure in their homes, stay warm, and maintain access to the internet.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:14:15-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Local Govs Will Spend Stimulus Relief in Different Ways

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), states and localities will once again receive billions of dollars to reduce the financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But this time local government spending of those funds will look different from before. The ARP works to restart the economy through a well-established plan that encourages vaccine development and pumps massive amounts of federal funding into the economy. In addition to stimulus checks for most people, state and local governments will receive an extra $350 billion, with $65.1 billion in direct federal aid for counties and an additional $1.5 billion for public land counties. A report by CivicPulse found that local governments plan to spend this stimulus payment differently than previous relief packages. While officials still want to ensure health safety measures and PPE demands are met, there will be a shift to make sure that communities will succeed through the pandemic’s duration and beyond.
Source: GOVERNING

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:16:06-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Hillsboro utility bills may soar for 2 1/2 years

Hillsboro electric customers will likely see their household electric bills go up 8.4% — an average of $15.33 a month — for the next 24 to 30 months. The increase, motivated by the same factors that could increase bills in Marion, too, will be decided at a city council meeting April 6. City administrator Matt Stiles told city councilmen Tuesday that the rate increase would be necessary to offset a dramatic spike in energy prices during February’s subzero temperatures and a resulting surcharge imposed by the city’s electricity provider.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:36:07-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Winfield gas bills to increase for 6 years

The City of Winfield’s plan to spread out natural gas costs accrued during February’s cold weather emergency will result in customers paying an average of $29 more per month over a six-year period to help pay off a state-backed loan the city took out to help pay suppliers. Customers should expect to see utility bills reflecting the increased usage costs beginning with the March 17 billing cycle, according to a press release Wednesday from city manger Taggart Wall.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:51:38-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Kansas Legislature passes rewrite of emergency management powers

Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bipartisan reform of the state’s emergency management law, installing new checks on powers of the governor, health officers and school boards to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and future disasters. The Senate adopted the legislation by a 31-8 vote hours after it won approval in the House by a 118-5 vote. The measure now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly for consideration. In addition to modifying the decades old Kansas Emergency Management Act, the new legislation extends the current disaster declaration from March 31 to May 28. The changes to KEMA were inserted into Senate Bill 40 — which previously dealt with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation. Republicans furious with the governor’s decisions to close schools, businesses and churches and require face coverings wanted additional limits on her powers. Competing plans emerged in the House and Senate before a compromise was reached.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:12:48-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Mayetta sales tax increase approved by city voters

Mayetta’s city sales tax will be increased by half a percentage point following yesterday’s special election, in which city electors voted to increase the sales tax, it has been reported. According to unofficial election results, the vote count was 21-5 in favor of increasing the city’s sales tax to 1.5 percent, effective April 1, to help pay back a 20-year loan through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to cover the cost of extending a new sewer line to the new Dollar General store that is currently under construction at Mayetta’s western city limits. Sewer line extension costs have been estimated at $396,517, it was reported. Mayetta Mayor Jonathan Wimer has also stated that if revenues generated by the sales tax exceed the annual payment on the KDHE loan, those revenues will be used for other purposes in the city, such as sidewalk and street improvements.
Source: Holton Recorder

Ranson Financial2021-03-18T07:37:38-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Limits on governor’s emergency powers, local COVID-19 orders pass out of Kansas Legislature

A lengthy bill overhauling Kansas’ emergency management laws in light of the COVID-19 pandemic passed out of Kansas Legislature Tuesday, and it will head to the governor’s desk. The bill, a compromise between the House and Senate, deal with multiple issues and was a product of days of intense negotiations between the two chambers. “This was probably the most extreme example of compromise that I’ve seen in my 7 years…” said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita. “When we started out on this… I thought there was no way we ever would reconcile the House and Senate versions.” Both versions had the primary aim of placing restrictions on the Democratic governor’s emergency powers by the majority-GOP legislature, but gone about significantly different ways to do it. The Senate version was also the only one to put limits on COVID-19 orders issued by local and school authorities.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe.

Ranson Financial2021-03-17T09:05:14-05:00March 17, 2021|News|

Johnson County development under fire as Kansas lawmakers weigh expanding STAR bonds

As the Kansas Senate last month debated whether to extend and expand a decades old economic incentive program one project kept coming up. Prairiefire. Critics of STAR Bonds, a 20-year-old incentive program designed to draw tourists to Kansas, held up the south Overland Park development as the ultimate failure. The picture of everything that could go wrong in a STAR Bonds development. And the reason the program should be changed or dropped altogether. Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, said a fifth of STAR Bond projects failed, and that was before a potential expansion of the program.
Source: KC Star.

Ranson Financial2021-03-17T09:02:27-05:00March 17, 2021|News|