Bonds

“The risks to the budget we are facing include stock market volatility, uncertainty around federal policy and tariffs, which could have some impact on California,” said Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw.California Department of Finance The devastating fires affecting Los Angeles took center stage Friday when California’s finance director presented Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed $322.2 billion budget.

Daniel Wiles retired from Los Angeles County in December, but continues to serve on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.MSRB Daniel Wiles has lived in southern California for more than two decades, but it hasn’t altered the ingrained humility of the Minnesota native. Wiles, who retired — mostly — from a long municipal finance career at

Homes in Larchmont, in New York’s Westchester County, which received and S&P upgrade to AAA>Bloomberg News Westchester County is ringing in the new year with a new AAA rating from S&P Global Ratings.  S&P’s analysts cited growth in the county’s reserves, conservative budgeting and strong sales tax revenue as the reason for Tuesday’s upgrade from

A yard sign in New Liberty, Iowa, in 2023. Carbon capture and storage projects, including pipelines to transport the CO2, have faced opposition from local landowners and environmental groups.Bloomberg News Carbon capture — a process with proponents and opponents on both sides of the political spectrum — may be at a pivotal point in the

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2024. On Tuesday, he announced his office will end reviews of Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan after they withdrew from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.Bloomberg News Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded recent moves by Bank of America, Morgan Stanley,

The SEC has asked for feedback on the existing collection of information for Rule 15c2-12 on disclosure.Bloomberg News The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to consider revamping disclosure rule guidelines and says the commission underestimates the burden the rule puts on underwriters. SIFMA outlined its concerns over

“We have a sort of ideological divide in the Republican party that’s gotten to the point where it’s intractable on some issues, in particular, anything spending and debt related,” said Joshua Huder, senior fellow, Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. Georgetown University Political prognosticators are looking forward to the new Congress and seeing the result of

Judges challenged both sides during a hearing on whether the U.S. government should be held responsible for COFINA bondholder losses.jiawangkun – Fotolia Appeals court judges sharply questioned both sides at a hearing to determine whether the United States government should be held responsible for losses by Puerto Rico Sales Tax Corp. (COFINA) bondholders. If the

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/21085078/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals sold off Wednesday, with the largest losses out long, while U.S. Treasuries closed with small gains and equities were mixed after Fed meeting minutes showed a more cautious approach and slower pace to rate cuts. Muni yields were cut up to 12 basis points, depending on the curve,

North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner said his appointments to the state’s Investment Advisory Committee would improve the pension system’s growth. The North Carolina Local Government Commission approved several bond deals at its meeting Tuesday. Approved were $252 million, $90 million and $45 million of bonds for Mecklenburg County, a $200 million bond for the

The Gandy Bridge across Old Tampa Bay. Florida sold bonds Wednesday to finance the building and repair of bridges and acquire right-of-way for roads.Bloomberg News Florida sold $131.9 million of bonds Wednesday with double-barreled backing from the state’s fuel taxes and full faith and credit pledge. The Florida Department of Transportation sold right-of-way acquisition and

The St. Paul hospital campus of Children’s Minnesota. The nonprofit health system plans a bond sale the week of Jan. 13..Children’s Minnesota Nonprofit health system Children’s Minnesota will refinance some debt and take out new debt to fund an electronic records transition, renovations at three hospitals and the purchase of medical equipment. The city of

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20997687/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals had a stronger tone Tuesday as investors closed their books ahead of the New Year holiday while U.S. Treasuries were mixed and equities saw losses for the final session of 2024. While municipals have outperformed USTs on the whole in 2024, they will close December with losses. How

A deal backed by United Airlines to finance upgrades at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was one of many billion-dollar-plus deals in Texas in 2024.Houston Airport System In a record year for municipal bond issuance, Texas set a record of its own. Issuers in Texas sold $67.88 billion of bonds in 2024, according to LSEG

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20989474/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were slightly stronger as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended down. Muni yields were bumped up to four basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields fell five to nine basis points with the biggest gains 10 years and in. The two-year municipal to UST ratio

The two leaders of New York’s state legislature vetoed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s capital plan, which has a massive funding gap.Marc A. Hermann / MTA A state review board has vetoed the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The leaders of both houses of the state legislature, in their roles as members of

“You have these woke corporations who are dictating how people should invest,” Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott told a local radio station. “You have these folks from New York City and Europe and California dictating how Hoosiers’ investments should be invested. And that’s a problem.”Indiana Treasurer of State The battle over ESG investing is spreading in

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been working furiously the past 30 days launching her budget proposal and closing the door on a special session to deal with costs associated with a record-breaking 2024 wildfire season.Oregon Governor’s Office It’s been a busy 30 days for Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. Since Thanksgiving, she has approved legislation drafted

“Lawmakers will need enhanced pay-fors, putting a substantial target on the municipal bond tax exemption,” said Tom Kozlik, managing director, head of public policy & municipal strategy for Hilltop Securities.  ”I think there is a 50% or greater chance the municipal bond tax exemption will be significantly curtailed or even completely eliminated in 2025.”  Hilltop Securities Looking

S&P Global Ratings Adobe Stock A sharp decline in debt service coverage helped drive a four-notch downgrade and CreditWatch placement for wastewater revenue bonds issued by Salinas, California. S&P Global Ratings Monday cut the debt to BBB-plus from AA-minus and put the rating on CreditWatch with negative implications. “The downgrade reflects our view of the