GCCC recieves donation from Valley State Bank

Garden City Community College received a $30,000 donation from Valley State Bank in the form of a tax credit in December. GCCC is selling Kansas Department of Revenue tax credits to be used for the ongoing STEM Success Center project, a 10,000 square feet addition to the Warren Fouse Science and Math building for learning space dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With locations in Syracuse and Garden City, Valley State Bank (VSB) has been a supporter of Garden City Community College for over a decade. During this time, VSB has supported the Broncbuster Athletic Association, GCCC Endowment Association, and many GCCC programs such as welding, meat science, and the rodeo team.
Source: Greater Garden City

Ranson Financial2023-01-13T07:01:23-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Muni leaders spar over disclosure, ESG

Muni leaders are airing disagreements and concerns about the Financial Data Transparency Act and other recent developments, highlighting some long-simmering tensions over how issuers disclose information to the market. The multi-pronged discussion on FDTA and other hot topics occurred Thursday at the Richard Ravitch Public Finance Initiative Launch Symposium sponsored by the Volcker Alliance and hosted by the Pew Charitable Trust in Washington. The event was anchored by a study on Sustainable State and Local Budgeting and Borrowing. The study promotes a more active role for the federal government via a carrot of paying issuers for more robust disclosure combined with a stick of congressional oversight.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T23:29:13-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Wichita continues rebate program for water-saving devices

The City of Wichita has started offering rebates again this year for residents who purchase water-saving devices and appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines. The City Council approved the program and it was put into effect Wednesday. The program has been offered since 2013 and Public Works spokesperson Penny Feist said it has saved an estimated 466 million gallons of water over the past decade. The program is part of the city’s ongoing water conservation program to respond to drought conditions.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T23:26:46-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Emporia seeking input on skate park project

The City of Emporia is seeking feedback on its plan to expand a local skate park. Residents are encouraged to submit their input through an online survey. “The City of Emporia is now looking at opportunities to redesign and expand on the Skate Park amenities currently located in Santa Fe Park (South Ave & West St). While this park may see some improvements, expansion at this location is not an option,” the city announced in a Facebook post. The survey, which can be found at emporiaks.gov/1470/Skate-Park-Survey, will help the city “develop a concept for future improvements at Whittier Park here in Emporia.”
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2023-01-13T07:02:54-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Jackson County Clerk Kathy Mick announces retirement

Jackson County Clerk Kathy Mick has announced that she will retire at the end of March after serving as clerk for 30 years. Mick was first elected to the position of county clerk in 1992 and took office in January 1993. She has worked in the county clerk’s office for a total of 44 years, starting as a part-time employee during her sophomore year of high school in 1978. She worked part-time after school and then full-time during the summer months, she said. Mick graduated from Holton High School in 1981 and began working full-time at the clerk’s office shortly thereafter. At that time, her aunt, Edna Brock, was serving as the Jackson County Clerk.
Source: Holton Recorder

Ranson Financial2023-01-13T07:03:26-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Small Kansas town unites to save historic house

One small Kansas town united to save a historic house in their hometown of Lincoln. The house was built in 1905 by J.W. Grubb, a former mayor of Lincoln. People say the interior is one of a kind with outstanding woodwork, newspaper insulation and more.” “It has great bones it has great woodwork, it has just a lot of character,” Director of Lincoln Co. Economic Foundation Kelly Gourley said. The house was moved about two miles outside of town because the hospital in Lincoln needed the land the house sat on.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T23:12:43-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Sedgwick County EMS earns reaccreditation

Sedgwick County EMS has earned reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). A news release from the county says that Sedgwick County EMS is one of more than 180 ambulance services in the country to successfully complete the voluntary review process. That review process includes a comprehensive application and on-site review by national experts in emergency medical services. Sedgwick County EMS is one of just two accredited ambulance services in the state of Kansas.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T23:10:06-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

Art project part of Wichita’s Northwest Water Treatment Facility

The City of Wichita is seeking qualified artists for three public sculpture art commissions on the grounds of the new Northwest Water Facility. The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The artwork for the project is expected to be installed by the end of 2023. The new water treatment facility is being built near 21st North and Hoover across from the Sedgwick County Zoo. The new water treatment plant will serve the city of Wichita, surrounding communities, industries, and wholesale customers. The new plant will provide 120 million gallons per day of drinking water and will replace the aging Main Water Treatment Plant.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-13T07:04:32-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

School board gets first peak into survey results

A summary of the answers to the telephone survey sponsored by the Winfield board of education to see what can be salvaged from the failed bond issue in November didn’t offer much direction. Rick Nobles of Excellence K-12, which did the survey, explained the results to the board at Monday night’s meeting. The respondents approved of pursuing secured entrances for all school buildings, FEMA-rated safety shelters for each school and working on deferred infrastructure problems.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T23:04:22-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

MSRB Report Reveals Significant Changes in Muni Market in 2022

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) has just released its 2022 Year-in-Review report, which reveals significant changes in the municipal bond market when compared to 2021 and prior years. Key findings include:

Trading volume in municipal bonds soared, surpassing the previous record set in 2008 by 17% and up 66% from 2021.
Individual investors flooded back into the market as interest rates rose, buying individual bonds and contributing to the dramatic increase in trading volume.
Tax-exempt yields rose 160-260 basis points for the year, as inflation fears and Fed tightening drove rates in all fixed income securities higher.
New issuance volume declined to the lowest level since 2018, with taxable and refunding deals down 57% and 65%, respectively, as higher rates made these deals less attractive to issuers.
Tax-exempt mutual funds saw unprecedented outflows as interest rates rose, with approximately $144 billion in outflows, far outpacing outflows in the only other two years the market saw outflows from tax-exempt mutual funds.
The market saw record inflows into tax-exempt ETFs, helping offset in part the dramatic outflows from tax-exempt mutual funds.

Read the report to learn more.

Ranson Financial2023-01-12T12:56:40-06:00January 12, 2023|News|

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