For Public Finance, a Year for Stability and Cautious Optimism

For state and local government financiers, the good news for 2024 is that most financial functions will be more predictable. Budget projections will be easier and more reliable, at least for the calendar year, as the economy continues settling fairly smoothly to a slower pace with inflation easing and interest rates drifting down with it. Of course, a slowing economy can be expected to be accompanied by softening tax revenues, and that has been reported in some states already. Nonetheless — and absent the usual unforeseeables like new wars, oil shocks and pandemics — public finance is returning to something resembling business as usual. With a few exceptions, the “New Normal” is becoming the “Old Normal,” at least for budgeting, collective bargaining, pension funding, tax rates and debt issuance. Wall Street has come to a growing consensus that the economy is gliding to a “soft landing,” with the only question being how long this can last. Inflation likely won’t drop in 2024 to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent, so while interest rates will likely drift somewhat lower, don’t look for anything near the unusually minuscule levels that prevailed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Borrowers will still pay and investors will still earn a positive real rate of return on debt instruments. Mirroring that overall economic glide path, upward pressures on salaries are likely to ease. But labor markets nationally will remain tight by historical standards, making it an ongoing public-sector challenge to hire personnel amid tight budgets.
Source: Governing

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:28:43-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

County approves wage increases, splits on Rural Opportunity Zone program

The County Commission approved a budgeted raise for employees, as well as elected officials and itself. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve providing a 3 percent cost of living increase to county employees for 2024. “We discussed this in budget season too so it’s all been approved in the 2024 budget,” he said. The plan also allocates $147,000 to alleviate an issue County Administrator Anthony Swartendruber described as wage compression. As hiring wages have risen they’ve begun to outpace wages for existing employees. Swartzendruber said the money would help provide some gap between employees with longer tenures and new hires. 54 County employees would be affected by that provision. County Commissioners will now paid $36,014 annually. The County Attorney( District Attorney) will receive $124,521, the County sheriff $111,638, the County Clerk $87,630, the County Register of deeds, $78,094, the County treasurer $75,760. In other news, the County approved a resolution to participate in a state program aimed at drawing out-of-state college graduates to live in Kansas counties, but not before objections were raised. As part of the program, the recipient will receive $3,000 a year in college loan forgiveness for up to five years. The State, through the Department of Commerce, pays half of that cost and requires a local match for the other half. Harvey County has been part of the program since 2021, but provides no local match. Instead, businesses or other organizations are charged with paying the local match. Renewal of the program came up on the County’s Jan. 2 agenda and Amy Siple addressed the county during the public comment section of the meeting. “This feels like a slap in the face to Harvey County Citizens,” she said “You’re asking us to pay off student loans for people to move into Harvey County.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:27:45-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Wichita bans corporate political donations on last-minute party-line council vote

Corporations and limited liability companies will no longer be allowed to contribute to Wichita City Council and mayoral campaigns after a contentious debate and 4-3 vote Tuesday. The four Democrats on the council approved the measure over the objection of their Republican colleagues during the final meeting before incoming Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian, and two new Republican council members take office. In a break from standard procedure, outgoing Mayor Brandon Whipple made an emergency declaration, allowing the council to finalize the reform Tuesday and forgo the standard second reading that would have otherwise been required next week. Whipple said the emergency declaration was necessary because the state-mandated $500 contribution limit for individuals and businesses resets with the start of a new year. “If you gave tons of money last campaign, you now can do this tomorrow if this doesn’t pass today,” Whipple said. The Republicans didn’t buy his logic. “I don’t think anyone would think that this is an emergency, and as a public health professional before I was elected to this position, I am just concerned with diluting the word ‘emergency,’” council member Becky Tuttle said. “I also believe firmly that businesses should have a say in who runs our city,” she said. “Businesses pay property tax, they pay sales tax. I don’t think they should get to vote, but I do believe they should have a say.” The city previously barred political committees, corporations, partnerships, trusts, labor unions, business groups and other organizations from contributing to candidates. But those restrictions were dropped in 2015, five years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision, which prohibits the government from restricting independent spending for political campaigns by corporations and other groups.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:26:39-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Fire causes damage to Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City

A fire damaged the Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City on New Year’s Day. Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department responded to the fire around 4 a.m. Firefighters found heavy flames engulfing the south end of the pavilion. Crews were able to contain the fire in the area, preventing further spread and minimizing potential damage. Damage is estimated at $10,000. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Arkansas City Police Department Lieutenant Detective Jason Legleiter at 620-441-4435 or Chet Ranzau, Arkansas City Fire Marshall, at 620-441-4430.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:25:36-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Kansas court systems slowly reaching finish line for complete restoration after cyberattack

The nightmare plaguing the state of Kansas’ court systems is almost over. On Tuesday, Kansas Courts spokeswoman Lisa Taylor said in a press release that a new portal allowing people to search through Kansas district court cases online is fully operational, with some drawbacks. For example, this portal is temporarily out of date while courts work to feed in case information filed on paper. The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal was one of several systems impacted by a cyberattack in October last year. Online systems associated with the Kansas Courts have been struggling to recover in the aftermath. “In the short time we’ve offered free online case search for district courts as part of our Kansas eCourt modernization plan, it has become our most popular service,” Chief Justice Marla Luckert said. “Restoring the ability to search case information online is yet another major milestone in our restoration plan.” Other features restored recently include the ability for people to pay fines, fees and costs online through the portal and the Kansas eCourt case management system. Information on recent payments, similar to case information, accessed through the portal may be out of date for the time being. Payments processed on Oct. 12 and after may not show up in the payment portal.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:24:44-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Orange line of Lawrence: City demands homeless camps move away from levy

A line drawn in the sand, or in this case, mud, accompanies a deadline from the city of Lawrence, demanding homeless camps move away from a levy along the Kansas River. WDAF-TV spoke to some of the people living beyond that border, one week away from the threat of their removal. Jan. 8 is the date the city of Lawrence posted, saying by then people need to move at least 15 feet away from the levy due to federal regulations and concerns about maintenance. But few tents have been moved so far. The area is in the sightline of City Hall, behind Johnny’s Tavern just north of the river. It’s the areas outside of the city-sanctioned camp that is being targeted, with a line of orange spray paint following the levy in the unmanaged, yet still busy, camping area. “But it seems to me that there’s going to be some kind of problem with people who don’t want to leave, and I can’t see them being invited to do something,” said Mark William Keplinger, who lives at the sanctioned camp. “Everyone’s arguing over who owns what or what owns what or what this is all becoming. And I’m like, it is what it is. Just get along with it,” said Jimmy Lee Lierhadley, who lives in the area outside of the city fencing. “Well I didn’t notice it went down really until they said something the other day,” said a 44-year-old man also living outside of the fenced area. The line cuts through his tent. He said it was painted while he was at work doing construction. “I told [my boss] my situation, and he needed a laborer and he went out and bought me these work boots,” he said, bringing the boots out of his tent.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:23:25-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Lyons raises money to continue Christmas bell and star

A holiday tradition in Lyons has been around for nearly a century. Those in the community take great pride in the tradition. “When I come home for the holidays, when I see that bell and star, that bell and star is home,” Teresa Schafer from Lyons said. “It means that I’m home for the holidays, and I know that that is a lot of people. You know you see the bell and star on the bell and star means home. And that’s not only me that is so many people.” In 1936, Oscar Laudick, Schafer’s great-grandpa, created the star to go on top of the courthouse. He was a custodian there. Then, in 1938, the bell was created after lights were hung from the star to the corner of the courthouse, looking like a bell. In 1951, a radio antenna was added to the courthouse, so the bell and star were moved to its current location, the Lyons water tower. Laudick rebuilt the star going from four feet to 10 feet. Each year, the bell and star is paid for by donations. Many will donate in memory of someone when they pass away. Laudick’s daughter JoAnne Arie always made sure there was money for the project, but she died in 2023. So, Schafer took it upon herself to set up a GoFundMe. They raised the $5,000 they needed in two weeks. The bell and star has gone up in price every year, but Schafer says the tradition will never stop. “There is not a single person that does not love that bell and star,” Schafer said. “There is not a single person that would not do what it took to keep that beloved star going.” The star looks like a star from any angle. The white bulbs are painted black, with a small spot of light showing on each side.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:09:32-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Researchers find high levels of fertilizer in area drinking water

Matthew Kirk has an unpleasant task: breaking the news to families about fertilizer chemicals in their drinking water. The Kansas State University geology professor and his collaborators check for nitrogen pollution in the private wells that so many rural households depend on. “Most of the well owners that I’ve talked to,” Kirk said, “this isn’t something that’s really on their radar.” Researchers aim to test about 150 private wells in south-central Kansas in Barton, Stafford, Pawnee, Edwards, Rice, Pratt and Kiowa counties. Students and scientists from K-State and Barton and Dodge City community colleges have teamed up to test about 90 so far. Of those, half contain more nitrate than federal regulators allow in public water systems. “Of those that didn’t,” Kirk said, “a lot of them were pretty darn close.” One well contained more than five times as much nitrate as the federal government tolerates in public water supplies. That household has started treating the water before drinking it. Drinking too much of these nitrogen compounds is dangerous for babies, and scientists are investigating suspected links to serious health conditions in children and adults, such as cancer. Public water sources have to comply with federal standards, so utilities treat water to reduce nitrate levels when necessary.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:08:00-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

New city commissioner hopes to give back to her community

Melanie Watson began her role as city commissioner on Dec. 12 and said she sees it as a way to give back to her community after the support she received while going through a difficult time in her life. Watson was the victim of domestic violence that eventually led to a violent attack from her husband after she filed for divorce. “I knew there would be consequences for me, physically, when I was trying to leave, I remember praying to God asking him not to kill me or disable me to the point I can’t care for my children,” Watson said. Watson was rushed to St. Francis where she said she had to be resuscitated twice along the way and again when she arrived at the hospital. Hospital staff told her family she wasn’t expected to make it through the night. She said that was when support from the community started with supportive calls from people she knew in Newton giving support to her family at the time. Watson stayed at the hospital for two months, and her arm had to be amputated during that time. After returning home she said the trauma had affected her mental state, and her mother moved in. Before going to the hospital, Watson had been working two jobs, but after leaving she was unable to work. Watson said during this time, she felt great support.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:06:34-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Longtime Shawnee HR director Liz Barnard retires

After 28 years in public service, the City of Shawnee’s human resources director has retired. Having watched Shawnee grow for almost three decades, Liz Barnard said she’s proud of her time in the city. “It was just a treat to serve the City of Shawnee for so many years,” she said. In Barnard’s tenure, she said she worked with four mayors, 46 councilmembers and more than 500 employees. It all went by in a blur, she said. “They say the days are long, but the years are short or something like that,” she said. “It’s true.” She also said she saw the city expand and evolve. “When I started, we didn’t have Splash Cove. We didn’t have Station 74. We didn’t have the Justice Center,” she said. “Anything west of Pflumm was basically just houses. There was no commercial development. So it’s just been so cool to see the different things that have been accomplished, in large part, to the amazing staff that was there.” Barnard was involved with projects that include the first Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, the Veterans Day celebration and helping lead the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Source: Johnson County Post

Ranson Financial2024-01-03T13:04:59-06:00January 3, 2024|News|