Kansas governor approves shift of tax dollars to private schools, but rejects cuts for small districts

22 Monday, May 22

Kansas governor approves shift of tax dollars to private schools, but rejects cuts for small districts

info2023-05-22T10:47:14-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a controversial school funding bill Thursday that lets more families use state tax dollars to pay for private or home schools. But Kelly vetoed portions of the bill that could hurt some rural school districts. That line-item veto could set up a court fight between Kelly and the Kansas Legislature over the governor’s powers to tweak a funding bill crammed with policy changes. The state constitution grants Kelly the power to veto individual items of appropriations bills, but lawmakers in recent years have separated the education budget into a bill that includes both spending and policy. [...]

22 Monday, May 22

After fire and smoke incidents, electric bus is an anomaly, Wichita city officials say

info2023-05-22T10:46:30-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

City officials are calling an electric bus that caught fire early Wednesday morning an anomaly. The incident was reported around 1:30 a.m. at the Wichita transit maintenance building at 777 E. Waterman. Maintenance staff and security noticed a lithium-ion battery powered bus had caught fire. The bus is powered by 10 lithium-ion batteries. Eight are mounted on the roof and two sit in the rear of the bus. The fire apparently originated from a single battery placed on the top, said Michael Tann, director of transit for the city. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

22 Monday, May 22

Incentives, infrastructure: Here’s what drew an $80M plastics plant to Maize

info2023-05-23T13:37:00-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

An 80-acre site within Maize Industrial Park "checked all the boxes" for a North Carolina-based manufacturer looking to build its eighth plastics plant in the Midwest, said Brad Muller, a spokesperson representing the company. Announced last week, the $80-million project from Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. will be built near 119th Street West and 53rd North in Maize. The company says it plans to create 50 new jobs over the next three years. Muller said Maize had a number of draws for the manufacturer, which produces cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, predominately for wholesale plumbing distributors. "Maize is fast growing, [...]

22 Monday, May 22

Zoning changes help Barton County rural businesses

info2023-05-23T13:36:07-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

In an effort to both make it easier to start a business in rural areas of Barton County and to protect the county’s interests, the County Commission Wednesday morning approved amendments to the zoning regulations and map. “We’re trying to catch situations where we’re protecting the county, we’re protecting landowners that live near these businesses, and also just making it as easy as we can to set up these businesses in the county,” said Environmental Manager Judy Goreham, who oversees zoning matters. Source: Great Bend Tribune

22 Monday, May 22

Incentives offered to Great Bend water customers

info2023-05-23T13:35:38-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

As a way to encourage Great Bend city water customers to return the lead and copper pipe questionnaires, the city will offer a $25 credit on the utility bills for those who respond by the Aug. 31 deadline. The surveys are part of a local pipe inventory mandated by federal and state agencies. Those who miss the deadline are not eligible. The survey is on the city’s website and will also be mailed to all 6,700 active account holders, said Public Works Director Jason Cauley. It is also being promoted on the city’s social media sites. Source: Great Bend Tribune

22 Monday, May 22

Local tourism makes big impact in Great Bend

info2023-05-23T13:35:10-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

One youth softball tournament can bring in over $500,000 into the community. That is just one of the impacts tourism has on the local economy, said Great Bend Community Coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes said, speaking to the City Council Monday night. “Last week was National Tourism week,” she said. “I just want to go over a couple facts, because as a board member for the (Kansas Tourism Office) it is part of our job to share what Kansas tourism does with our councils and boards.” Source: Great Bend Tribune

22 Monday, May 22

Sedgwick ups the ante in battle over empty buildings

info2023-05-22T10:34:51-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

The owners of abandoned buildings could soon face fines up to $500, thanks to an ordinance passed Wednesday evening during Sedgwick’s city council meeting. City Administrator Kyle Nordick suggested an annual registration fee of $25 for residential and $100 for commercial vacant buildings to try to combat the blight that empty spaces create in the community. He said they discourage economic development and decrease appreciation of other property values. Source: Harvey County Now

22 Monday, May 22

Summer kickoff to draw crowd in Halstead

info2023-05-22T10:29:58-05:00May 22nd, 2023|

With attendance forecast at anywhere from 400 to 500 people, the Kansas Learning Center for Health’s free Summer Kick-Off is expected to be bigger than ever this year. Held on Wednesday, May 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., the event is described by Elizabeth Hingst, assistant director, as a mix of a block party and a resource fair. “The entire town is invited, and it’s a one-stop shop for all things summer,” Hingst said. “You can sign up for family pool passes and swim lessons, the library will have their signup for the summer reading program […] my kids ended up [...]

21 Sunday, May 21

Municipal Bond Trends for May 18, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-05-22T11:29:12-05:00May 21st, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

19 Friday, May 19

Shawnee County says Kansas law prevents tax deal with Heartland Park

info2023-05-20T16:27:39-05:00May 19th, 2023|

Kansas law bans Shawnee County from complying with a request by the owner of Heartland Motorsports Park that the two sides cut a deal to resolve a years-long property tax battle, commissioners said Thursday. They quoted a Kansas law that says the county cannot “release, discharge, remit or commute” past tax liability if the valuations involved have not been appealed or challenged by the taxpayer. In a signed statement put out Thursday, Commissioners Kevin Cook, Aaron Mays and Bill Riphahn said they are sympathetic to the situation facing Chris Payne but that he hasn’t availed himself of the options available. Payne [...]