Bonds

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newest policy thrust to reduce homelessness by improving mental health services — including a proposed $4.5 billion bond to add psychiatric beds — is likely to get some pushback from county governments. An analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that Newsom’s overhaul of the state’s behavioral and mental health system

Annual tax revenue collection in Massachusetts fell by 4.7% in fiscal year 2023, the State Department of Revenue announced in its yearly report released Friday. The state collected $39.2 billion in fiscal 2023, $1.94 billion less than in fiscal 2022 and 1.5% below the state’s set benchmark, the report said. Officials attributed the year-over-year dip

Connecticut officials say a debt service reserve fund insurance policy allowed them to fund the state’s new baby bond trust without resorting to borrowing. Since July 1 newborns birthed under Connecticut’s Medicaid program, Husky, have been automatically enrolled in CT Baby Bonds and credited with $3,200 deposit that will be invested on their behalf. Between

California is following other states in a push to snare federal infrastructure money to develop the state’s hydrogen market. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that he has directed the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, more commonly known as GO-Biz, to develop a hydrogen market development strategy for the state, employing an all-of-government

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy involving a bond-financed Arizona participant sports venue will continue to move forward in an effort to sell the property after a federal court judge denied a motion to appoint an independent trustee for the debtor or dismiss the case. Judge Daniel Collins’ Wednesday order acknowledged disputed allegations of mismanagement and infractions

An Iowa hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, blocking a move by its largest bondholder to seek a court-appointed receiver and the immediate payment of principal and interest.  Monday’s filing by Mercy Hospital in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa stays the receivership case brought by the bond trustee Computershare

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said the greater-than-expected easing in inflation in June may be an indication that the U.S. economy can have a “soft landing,” returning to price stability without a damaging recession. “There is still a plausible story that inflation normalizes in short order and the economy dodges additional trauma,”

Louisiana has tapped a consortium led by Plenary Americas as the private sector partner to negotiate a 50-year public-private partnership to replace the aging Calcasieu River bridge on Interstate 10. Calcasieu Bridge Partners is a joint venture of Plenary Americas US Holdings, Inc., which holds a 40% equity stake, and Sacyr Infrastructure USA LLC, and

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority triumphed in a hard-fought battle over the issuance of initial debt to finance a $5 billion expansion project, with the state Supreme Court Tuesday validating the bonds. In a 6-3 decision, the high court approved $500 million of second senior lien revenue bonds, rejecting arguments OTA lacks legislative authorization to build

Financial woes at an Iowa hospital led a major bondholder and a bond trustee to state court seeking the appointment of a receiver for the facility, while they demand the immediate payment of principal and interest in the wake of default events. The move comes as hospitals nationwide face persistent pressures as they slowly recover

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said data showing slower U.S. inflation is “fabulous news” but he hasn’t yet decided on whether to support pausing interest-rate increases at the next policy meeting. “I haven’t made up my mind for what should happen in September,” Goolsbee said Monday in an interview on Yahoo! Finance.

The Federal Reserve said that banks reported tighter standards and continued weak demand for loans in the second quarter, extending a trend that began before recent stresses in the banking sector emerged. The proportion of U.S. banks tightening terms on commercial and industrial loans for medium and large businesses rose to 50.8%, up from 46%

Blake Washington was appointed Thursday to be New York’s budget director. Washington, secretary to the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where he advises the Speaker and Assembly members on all budget and fiscal matters, was chosen for the post by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “With years of public service and a deep

Alaska is crafting regulations for a law that would reduce carbon emissions by selling credits to preserve the state’s forested land to help lessen the impact of air pollution. The state’s so called tree bill, Senate Bill 48, and its companion bill, House Bill 49, were signed into law in May. When Gov. Mike Dunleavy

The life and legacy of Bond Buyer reporter Yvette Shields was honored Tuesday with a proclamation introduced on the floor of the Illinois Senate. Introduced by Sen. Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, the proclamation pays homage to Shields as a “celebrated and beloved financial reporter” who “left behind an indelible mark on the public finance industry in

Kentucky’s economy remains in overdrive as it continues to rack up record after record. This month the state saw the largest surplus in its history as the general fund budget had a $1.55 billion overage at the end of fiscal 2023. Nearly all of the surplus will go into the commonwealth’s rainy-day fund, bringing it

A bigger basketball arena is being pushed by Oklahoma City’s mayor, who wants to put a plan that would include public and team funding before voters this year. Mayor David Holt spent most of his state of the city address last week laying out his case for replacing the city-owned Paycom Center, contending “no tax

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s executive board last week approved a $15.7 billion capital plan for 2023 to 2028. Approximately 60% of capital spending called for is “focused on improving the reliability and resiliency” of the existing infrastructure, MassDOT chief Gina Fiandaca wrote in an introduction to the plan, with an additional 23% going towards

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration for the next five years and granting $4 billion per fiscal year to the Airport Improvement Project. The bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, was passed in a 351-69 bipartisan vote, and will now move on to the Senate

Oklahoma’s attorney general is pursuing potential legal action against parties that may have illegally profited off of huge demand for electricity and natural gas during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, which led to nearly $2.9 billion of bonds being sold last year to cover extraordinary costs incurred by four utility companies.  AG Gentner Drummond announced Tuesday