Officials discuss general fund, budget at 2021 City of Manhattan retreat

Jason Hilgers, City of Manhattan deputy city manager, suggested to the Manhattan City Commission at a retreat last Friday that they consider a five-year plan for the general fund. The general fund, which is around $31 million this year, has stayed about the same the past five years. Hilgers says increasing it by a few percent each year could help the city keep up with operating expenses. “Those two, three, four percent increases allow us to keep doing our jobs – what’s expected of us,” Hilgers said. “When we go zeros or we’re expected to just use what we had last year, it’s a negative. We have to cut to do that. Costs go up.”
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2021-01-26T08:03:38-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Gov. Kelly signs bill extending disaster declaration

Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 14 into law, extending the State of Disaster Emergency Declaration to March 31, 2021, and allowing for the continuation of certain resources, support, and regulations critical to Kansas’ COVID-19 response efforts. “Extending the current disaster declaration is essential for our state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, allowing us to keep Kansans safe and healthy, keep our economy open, and get our kids back in school as quickly as possible,” Governor Laura Kelly said. Among other resources and support, the disaster declaration allows Kansas to provide community-based COVID-19 testing, provide support to food banks and pantries, and provide hospitals and first responders with Personal Protective Equipment.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-01-26T08:04:03-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Wichita City Council to discuss ethics policy

Wichita city council members will talk about a proposed ethics policy during a workshop meeting Tuesday. Mayor Brandon Whipple said a policy has been one of his top goals since taking office. Mayor Whipple said the policy would set up an independent board to investigate allegations of unethical behavior against an elected official, and it would set up due process to allow an official to provide a defense. He said a chairman would be appointed by the mayor and vetted by the city council, and this person would be someone from the fields of law or academics. A six-person board would be made up of members from city advisory boards. Whipple said there would be penalties if someone is found guilty, and they would range from censure to a fine up to $1,000. There would also be limits on gifts that elected officials could accept.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-01-26T08:05:11-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 22, 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 Financial2021-01-25T07:06:02-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Barton County: 300 vaccines administered in 2 hours

In Barton County, it took health care staff only two hours to administer their 300 doses of the vaccine. Previously, the county has held two drive-thru vaccine clinics, but this time, it was first come, first serve. It was also the first time with no appointments needed. The staff had to turn residents away two hours before the drive-thru opened. Don Harrison was the first person to line up, at 7 am. He said he waited 8 and a half hours to get the vaccine. “It is so I can get back to work,” said Don Harrison. “I feel better now that I got it.”
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T06:58:00-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Thousands preregistered, doses on the way as Ellis County sets up mass vaccination clinic

As phase two vaccinations roll out, Ellis County announced it will be taking steps toward vaccinating the masses both efficiently and effectively. The first phase of vaccines brought struggles of staffing, space, flow, and parking to many in the Ellis County medical community. “It was having a negative impact on staffing our clinic and as well as trying to administer doses, and so we knew that wasn’t sustainable,” said Bryan Brady, CEO of First Care Clinic. To overcome those obstacles in phase two, the local medical community — Ellis County Health Department, First Care Clinic, HaysMed, part of the University of Kansas Health Systems — along with Big Creek Crossing Mall have partnered to open a large-scale vaccination site where the entire county can get vaccinated as doses become available.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T06:58:10-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Survey reveals rural economic gains

The rural economy in parts of 10 Plains and Western states continues to grow, but rural bank CEOs say their biggest fears for the 2021 economy are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates, according to a new survey of bankers. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 in January from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T06:58:41-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

KS teachers: hybrid classes are no better than all-virtual

Hybrid learning has become the go-to compromise for Kansas’ largest school districts to get students back in classrooms. Districts in Lawrence, Topeka, Olathe and elsewhere rotate students between in-person and online lessons. Kids get physical time in front of a teacher without risking crowded classrooms during the pandemic. But some Kansas teachers say the hybrid model isn’t much better than keeping students online full-time. The constant shift from the classroom to the screen disrupts learning. Teachers say they have twice the workload while splitting their focus between online and in-person students, giving neither the attention they deserve.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T06:58:54-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

AG: Chautauqua County Commission violated state transparency law

The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners was ordered to take Kansas Open Meetings Act training after the Kansas Attorney General’s Office last year determined the board had violated KOMA by not holding public votes on whether to terminate three former county employees. The attorney general’s office declined to pursue formal enforcement action against the board, though, saying it thinks the board acted in a good faith. In a complaint filed Aug. 14, 2019, a Cedar Vale resident alleged the board took action in executive sessions held during meetings on July 15, 2019, and July 22, 2019, to fire two road and bridge department employees and one solid waste department employee, instead of making the decision in a public vote.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T06:59:34-06:00January 25, 2021|News|

Sales tax collection increase in 2020

Edgerton ranks below Gardner and Spring Hill on combined sales tax rates. Edgerton’s combined rate is 8.975, and both Gardner and Spring Hill combined rates are 9.475. Edgerton collected about $100,000 more in sales tax revenue this year. The total was $852,533 for 2020 and in 2019 it was $747,277.
“Because we have so many businesses that are considered essential, the City of Edgerton did not see the sharp declines that impacted many other cities. We remain in excellent financial shape to begin 2021.” said Donald Roberts, mayor. Sales tax revenue increased in 2020 over 2019, Roberts continued. Edgerton’s sales tax base includes companies that saw an increase in business due to the pandemic and continued to purchase taxable goods and services.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2021-01-25T07:00:09-06:00January 25, 2021|News|