Sedgwick County announces Phase II vaccination plan

Sedgwick County announced Friday that the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine should begin in the next few weeks, as vaccines become available in the county. Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County Health Officer, in consultation with local medical providers and the Sedgwick County Health Department, is finalizing the Phase II vaccination plan. It is expected to follow the guidance from the CDC and local medical professionals, with vaccines available to people 65 and older first. Individuals with medically verified high-risk factors would follow. Vaccines from the county, when available, will be by appointment only through a registration portal. Additional vaccination and scheduling options will also be offered in the future.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:44:48-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Wichita will offer rent, utility assistance with federal funding from stimulus bill

Wichita residents who need help paying their rent and utilities because of the coronavirus-related economic downturn can apply to a new city program that will cover back payments and future bills. Applications are not open yet, but could be by late January or early February, said Sally Stang, director of housing and community services for the city of Wichita. The city expects to receive at least $12 million in federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, also known as the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in December. The same bill extended a federal eviction ban until Jan. 31.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:43:33-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Olathe school district superintendent is retiring

John Allison, superintendent of the Olathe school district, will retire at the end of this school year, he announced Thursday night. And the district has already named his successor. The school board appointed Brent Yeager, assistant superintendent for learning services, to replace him starting in July. He’s the second Johnson County superintendent to announce his retirement in as many months. In December, Shawnee Mission Superintendent Mike Fulton announced that he also plans to retire in July. The district has yet to name a replacement.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:43:04-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Powell sees no interest rate hikes on the horizon as long as inflation stays low

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell affirmed his commitment to keeping interest rates low for the foreseeable future even as he expressed hope for a strong economic recovery. “When the time comes to raise interest rates, we’ll certainly do that, and that time, by the way, is no time soon,” the central bank chief said Thursday during a Q&A session presented by Princeton University. During the wide-ranging discussion, Powell spoke about how the Fed handled the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as his expectations for what is ahead.
Source: Economy

Ranson Financial2021-01-15T08:04:46-06:00January 15, 2021|News|

Wichita taskforce, WSU to study litter as part of debate on banning plastic bans

This spring, volunteers will begin collecting litter around the city to determine how big of a problem plastic bags pose and whether they should be banned locally. A decision is at least a year away. The Wichita City Council created the Wichita Single-Use Plastic Bag Taskforce in February 2020 to assess the possibility of banning plastic bags. The task force will use the litter study, which it announced Thursday, to help make its recommendation to the city. …The project will identify locations to pick up litter, organize volunteers in the litter collection and categorize and count the type of trash and where it came from. WSU’s center will then identify significant sources of litter and develop recommendations to reduce litter.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-01-15T08:01:04-06:00January 15, 2021|News|

Muni bond provision outlook is bright in new Congress

The Senate’s flip to a Democratic-majority makes an infrastructure bill likely to pass in the coming months, and key lawmakers support including important municipal bond provisions. … A Democratic Congress and White House mean a solid chance for some sort of infrastructure bill to break through, sources say. This comes as the Chamber of Commerce launched an initiative on Wednesday with over 130 organizations to push for an infrastructure package by July 4. … Municipal bond provisions are set up for success in the next Congress. Last summer House Democrats passed the Moving Forward Act, which has expired and will need to be introduced in the new Congress but which contained numerous bond provisions. Among those were expanding the use of tax-exempt private activity bonds, permanently reinstating Build America Bonds and reinstating tax-exempt advance refunding bonds. Those provisions were headed by House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal, D-Mass, who will continue to chair that committee in 2021.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2021-01-15T07:56:49-06:00January 15, 2021|News|

Wheat market soars, topping price highs – Experts explain why

It’s a bull market in grains. Farmers are watching as the wheat market soars above $6 and the one question many are wondering is, how high will it go? Being pulled by strong soybean and corn prices, wheat is not far behind, topping price highs that haven’t been seen in nearly six years according to the Kansas Wheat Commission. All major U.S. wheat classes have been climbing in the markets for weeks. “In the 40 or 45 years that we’ve farmed, I’ve seen this happen like once,” said Vance Ehmke, Lane County Farmer. Poor crop conditions and low acreage has led to a lack of supply but a surge in demand.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-15T07:54:31-06:00January 15, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 14, 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 Financial2021-01-15T07:53:09-06:00January 15, 2021|News|

Kansas Senate passes bill removing tax lid; instead, requires notice if exceed “revenue neutral rate”

The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed legislation to require local governments to notify residents by mail and hold public hearings before increasing property tax collections. The tax bill removes a controversial lid on yearly mill levy increases and instead establishes a “revenue neutral rate,” which adjusts the effective tax rate to account for increases in assessed property value. Cities and counties that fail to follow the rules will have to refund taxpayers. Other provisions in the bill, which passed 31-1, ban counties from increasing property values as a result of normal maintenance and give treasurers the authority to offer a payment plan for property taxes.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Legislation: Senate Bill 13 and its Supplemental Note.

Ranson Financial2021-01-14T20:49:27-06:00January 14, 2021|News|

Governor Kelly releases proposed state budget

Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has outlined a proposed annual budget that includes a tax increase and two other major initiatives likely to be rejected by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. Kelly on Wednesday outlined a $20.9 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. Among other things, it would protect a previously promised increase in spending on public schools. But the governor also proposed expanding Medicaid and cutting the state’s annual contribution to pensions for teachers and government workers, and GOP leaders oppose both ideas. Kelly wants to impose the state sales tax on online music and movies purchases, and Republicans criticized the idea last year.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-01-15T07:49:41-06:00January 14, 2021|News|