House panel debates, advances KPERS plan

Members of a House panel wrestled Monday with how best to dispose of Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to refinance the pension system for state workers.
They settled on advancing the proposal without recommendation to the House floor, where the Republican-dominated chamber can amplify rejection of a cornerstone in the Democratic governor’s budget.
Kelly’s plan for reamortizing the state’s decades old debt to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System would extend the payment plan from 15 to 25 years, lowering annual payments before they balloon in the coming years. Opponents of the plan gawk at the $4.4 billion in interest that would be added to the debt.

Ranson Financial2020-02-11T06:16:51-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

Small town charm at Edgerton Library

Edgerton is unique among Johnson County Library’s 14 branches in that the Library system doesn’t own the building. Instead, the building is leased from the city. Edgerton had lacked library service since the early 1980s. In 1999, the city acquired the vacant bank building at 319 E. Nelson St., and Johnson County Library agreed to a partnership. Many Edgerton citizens turned out to help gut the building and turn it into a wonderful Library space, which opened July 29, 2000. It was a community labor of love.
John Keogh, Library branch manager for Gardner, Spring Hill and Edgerton, spends most of his time at Gardner but always enjoys his visits to the Edgerton branch. “The thing I love about Edgerton is this is a community that still feels like a small town. And they take a lot of pride in that,” he says. “I really love this building. I love the space. I love the architecture. It’s a calming space to be.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-02-11T06:16:22-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

Overland Park looking at 18-month pilot test of e-bikes on recreational trails

Bicycles that get an extra boost from electric motors may be allowed on Overland Park recreational trails soon in an experiment to see how they coexist with other trail users.

The city’s Community Development Committee is moving forward with a plan to run an 18-month pilot project that would allow certain types of motorized bikes on trails. If there are no significant problems, they could be allowed permanently.

E bikes, as they are known, are a fast-growing segment of the bicycle market as the population ages. Proponents say they allow more people with mobility issues like bad knees or low physical fitness get out and enjoy the outdoors and a healthier lifestyle.

(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-02-11T06:17:03-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

City, county officials object to Kansas Senate’s property tax ‘transparency’ bill

Garden City Mayor Troy Unruh considers a Kansas Senate bill touted as a boon for property tax transparency to be a hamstring on the capacity of local public agencies to create jobs.

The bill targeting tax revenue increases resulting from higher property valuations led Harvey County Commissioner Randy Hague, of Newton, to declare it an erosion of municipal government autonomy. Andover City Council President Troy Tabor said the process outlined in the bill was overly burdensome and complex enough it could result in the opposite of transparency. The bill won’t do anything to limit the state’s collection of property taxes, said Garnett city manager Christopher Weiner.

McPherson Fire Chief T.J. Wyssmann said the “truth in taxation” legislation restricted the city’s ability to fulfill obligations to public safety because it wouldn’t exempt fire, medical and police agencies. Compliance will force acquisition of computer

Ranson Financial2020-02-10T06:45:23-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

Not connected and no Netflix: ‘It’s frankly embarrassing’ in these Kansas towns

The internet service was so bad at Citizens State Bank in Cottonwood Falls that its computers could hardly handle a routine update from Microsoft.

So not too long ago, bank vice president Matt Lindamood loaded up the PCs and drove them over to Emporia, 30 minutes away. There, he connected the desktop computers to a fiber internet connection.

“What we couldn’t get done here happened in a matter of minutes there,” he said.

Ranson Financial2020-02-10T06:45:38-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

“There is no better time than now to issue long-term debt”

The municipal market is taking down new-issuance with ease while taxable bonds continue to be a growing portion of the calendar. With rates low and demand significantly outpacing supply, some see a market in uncharted territory.
“This is truly a golden age for our market,” said Dan Heckman, senior fixed-income strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. “There is no better time than now to issue long-term debt, both in terms of the current rates and the out-of world-demand — it’s a perfect storm for munis right now.”
…
Heckman added that the market has been and will continue to be under-supplied, even though he senses there will be an uptick in issuance at these new lower rates and yields, but it still won’t be enough.

(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Ranson Financial2020-02-10T06:53:11-06:00February 10, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 7, 2020

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 Advisors.

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:29:42-05:00February 10, 2020|Finance|

Armenian police trainers pick up some lessons at KLETC

An effort to reform the police force in the country of Armenia got a little help from officers and trainers more than 10,000 miles away.

Nine high-ranking trainers from the Republic of Armenia completed a two-week visit to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Yoder on Friday.

“Recently our prime minister decided to create a division for police reform,” said Col. Tigran Yesayan, Deputy Head of the Police for Armenia, who led the delegation.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-02-09T19:19:32-06:00February 9, 2020|News|

Cheap meth driving down some property crimes in Wichita, police official says

Wichita’s burglary, automobile larceny and gun theft from vehicle rates were down last year.

The reason? Cheap meth.

That’s according one police official who said at a public meeting last month that the Wichita Police Department is attributing “a very significant drop” in those property crime categories to record-low methamphetamine prices.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-02-09T19:18:03-06:00February 9, 2020|News|

General Mills chooses Cheney Reservoir for restorative farming project

A major food corporation has selected Kansas wheat as the best in the nation for a three-year pilot project.

The restorative farming project will discover ways farmers can save water, increase soil health and decrease carbon footprints.

General Mills, with the help of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, selected the 650,000-acre Cheney Reservoir region as the project’s location.

This region includes farms in five counties — Kiowa, Reno, Pratt, Kingman and Stafford. Water from the reservoir where the runoff from these farms goes is used by residents of Wichita. By way of application, 24 farmers were chosen for this pilot project.

Ranson Financial2020-02-09T19:14:47-06:00February 9, 2020|News|

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