Bonds

We are at the initial stages of a major paradigm shift that has significant implications for the municipal market over the next five to 10 years. A number of societal mega-trends will present material challenges for the municipal market. These include climate change, growing federal debt, shrinkage of the workforce, the impact of remote work,

States and municipalities across the United States are continuing to invest in Israel bonds as the war between the state of Israel and Hamas spills over into its seventh month. Since war broke out after the U.S-designated terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, over $1.639 billion of Israel bonds have been sold to

California lawmakers fine-tuned their March budget proposal, cutting spending by $17.3 billion ahead of formal discussions to get a head start on difficult decisions amid a record deficit. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced they reached an agreement Thursday, providing specifics about how they plan to

Asbestos. Lead. Temperatures that reach 115 degrees. Cracks in the ceiling so big you can see the sky. All of these have been found in Pennsylvania’s public schools.  Pennsylvania lawmakers toured schools around the commonwealth last year, and what they found was “nothing short of shameful,” according to State Representative Peter Schweyer.  “I was touring

With tax season in full swing, the muni market is underperforming and facing selling pressure as investors move out of short-term paper to pay tax blls. However, these dynamics have not made the asset class an undesirable option for investors and most expect demand to remain strong. Munis are returning negative 0.06% month-to-date, while USTs

A Colorado bonding authority is taking a step toward purchasing a hotel tied to author Stephen King’s The Shining after an Arizona nonprofit dropped its bond-financed plan to buy and renovate the property.  The Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA), which would have been the conduit issuer for up to $475 million of cultural

Stadium financing, a cap on local lease revenue bonds, and an effort to preserve the state’s largest coal-fired power plant were some of the measures signed last week by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The Republican-controlled legislature ended its session March 1, passing a $29.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, as

Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook said the U.S. central bank must take a cautious approach to cutting interest rates to allow more time for inflation to slow down in some segments of the economy. Fed policymakers left rates unchanged at their meeting last week at a two-decade high, and maintained their forecast for three rate

The state of Washington is the second large issuer to face pushback from investors as it heads to market with a deal to refund Build America Bonds using extraordinary call provisions. Wells Fargo Securities, leading a seven-bank syndicate, plans Tuesday to price $1.08 billion of Washington state motor fuel tax and vehicle related fees refunding

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday he will sign by the end of the day a bill that has been flagged by the Intermountain Power Agency (IPA) as posing risks to its bond-financed transition from coal to cleaner fuels.  The legislation aims to keep the state’s largest coal-fired power plant located near Delta, Utah, in

The Kentucky State Property and Buildings Commission has $649 million of bonds on the calendar next month in a deal that will refund all of its outstanding Build America bonds, provide new money for capital projects and include a tender offer. Separately, the Kentucky Housing Corp. and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority are seeking firms to provide

The Securities and Exchange Commission to is under fire from lawmakers and the financial industry regarding the volume and scope of regulations raining down from the regulator under the leadership of Chairman Gary Gensler. “Chair Gensler’s frenetic partisan rulemaking agenda at the SEC has threatened the health of U.S. capital markets and highlights the need

The California Senate introduced a plan that would shrink the state’s deficit, but still leave a sizable gap. Calling it an early stab at the shortfall, Sen. Leader Mike McGuire, D-North Coast, and Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee Chair Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco unveiled a plan last week that cuts $17 billion through program

Private borrowers that issue tax-exempt bonds through Pennsylvania conduit issuers don’t need to follow the state’s prevailing wage requirements for public projects. That’s the final word from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which in February decided a case that was filed in 2018 over bonds issued in 2016. Ursinus College issued bonds through a public authority

To toll, or not to toll, that is the question for Oregon lawmakers as they continue work on a comprehensive plan to create a sustainable revenue stream that will support the state’s transportation infrastructure. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek sowed confusion on Monday when she halted plans to toll Portland-area freeways, citing uncertainty about freeway project

Hawaii Department of Transportation airport division revenue bond ratings and bonds issued by the state backed by car rental fees were upgraded by Fitch Ratings, which cited full recovery on enplanements. Fitch upgraded the airport’s $1.7 billion in revenue bonds to AA-minus from A-plus and $111.6 million in certificates of participation to A-plus from A

IDEA Public Schools in Texas will operate under state oversight as part of a settlement agreement with the charter school network, which was the target of a probe since 2021 into alleged financial and operational improprieties. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) appointed two conservators to oversee and direct IDEA’s actions, facilitate a needs assessment, conduct

The Florida state legislative session ended Friday with lawmakers approving a $117.46 billion budget for fiscal 2024-2025, up 0.8% from the $116.5 billion fiscal 2023-2024 budget. This year’s budget provides another $500 million toward accelerating the debt pay-down. The general fund budget totals roughly $49.4 billion, a 7.2% increase from the current fiscal year’s budget

The Kansas Department of Transportation expects to head to the municipal market this summer with its first bond issue to help finance a $10 billion, statewide transportation improvement program.  The $200 million of bonds backed by state highway fund revenue will be sold in a negotiated deal for the 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, which

Private entities pitching Florida local governments on unsolicited public-private partnerships would face less competition and a smoother approval process under a bill that the Legislature passed and sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. Senate Bill 781 would allow a local government to enter into an unsolicited proposal for a P3 without engaging in a