Bonds

Republican lawmakers in Arizona pushed back on aspects of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ proposed fiscal 2025 budget, particularly its targeting of rising costs for the state’s universal school voucher program. The spending plan, which was unveiled by the Democratic governor Friday and had its first airing Tuesday before the Republican-controlled legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, aims to

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office take on the governor’s proposed budget found Gov. Gavin Newsom’s deficit estimates “optimistic,” though it lowered its own deficit estimates by $10 billion to $58 billion. The main difference between Newsom’s budget for fiscal 2024-25 released last week, which projects a $38 billion deficit, and the LAO’s, is the governor

The Federal Reserve should be able to “methodically and carefully” lower its interest rate target this year, if inflation continues to moderate, Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said Tuesday. “When the time is right to begin lowering rates, I believe it can and should be lowered methodically and carefully,” Waller said in a Brookings event.

California’s budget shortfall is $30 billion less than the $68 billion deficit forecast by the legislative analyst’s office in November, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday as he unveiled his proposed $291.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2024-25. Even his estimated $37.9 billion deficit will still require some tough choices as Newsom and lawmakers work on

Washington state’s rating outlook was revised to positive from stable Thursday by S&P Global Ratings, citing the state’s growing economy and strong reserves. The outlook revision means there is a one-in-three chance the state could have its AA-plus rating upgraded to AAA by S&P over the two-year outlook period, said Oscar Padilla, an S&P director.

The Biden administration Wednesday announced $623 million for cities and states to help build a national electric vehicle charging station network, a prominent piece of the president’s infrastructure agenda that so far has been off to a slow start. The grants mark the first round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $2.5

Marina Wiant has been appointed by State Treasurer Fiona Ma to replace Nancee Robles as executive director of the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. Wiant, who started in those posts Wednesday, fills the positions that had been vacant since Robles announced in July that she would be retiring

The complex relationship between municipal bond issuance and natural disasters is inspiring political debate and conflicting viewpoints with some experts predicting a tidal surge of issuance.  “With or without Congressional intervention, state and local governments are likely to expand medium and long-term borrowing programs to address climate change mitigation and adaptation,” said Tom Doe, president,

Jeff Landry was sworn in as the state’s 57th governor on Monday, while John Fleming was sworn in as state treasurer and Elizabeth Baker Murrill took over as state attorney general. In an October election, Landry, a conservative Republican, replaced Democrat John Bel Edwards, who was term-limited out of office. He had been the state attorney

The municipal bond market is taking a wait and see approach about the departure of Mitch Landrieu, who has been operating under the unofficial title of “infrastructure czar,” as he prepares for a new role on President Biden’s campaign staff.   According to the Biden administration Landrieu oversaw, “over 40,000 infrastructure projects spread across 4,500 communities

Massachusetts plans to come to market on Thursday with $1.4 billion of general obligation bonds that will kick off the first full trading week of the year. The deal is one of the largest offerings of the week, which will see $9.1 billion of supply flood into the market after the weeks-long holiday drought. Jefferson

The state of Illinois is preparing to issue $600 million in new Build Illinois junior sales tax revenue bonds — 2024 Series A, B and C — in a competitive auction next week.  “Illinois enters the market as cash needs for projects arise,” said Olivia Kuncio, senior deputy press secretary to Gov. JB Pritzker. Rebuild

From baby bonds to pension funding, 2023 was a year for progress in Connecticut, according to the annual report released Wednesday by State Treasurer Erick Russell. “The work done by our agency often focuses on the long-term — sustained investment success, low-cost infrastructure funding, helping families save for college, and now our landmark ‘CT Baby

Since the Florida Legislature approved reforms to the state’s insurance industry this year, the state Office of Insurance Regulation has given approval for six additional property and casualty insurers to enter the market, Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said Friday. The OIR has responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance

Arizona’s universal school voucher program would face greater oversight and restrictions under proposed legislation unveiled by Gov. Katie Hobbs Tuesday.  Citing a projection the empowerment scholarship accounts (ESA) will cost the state nearly $1 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor called for increased accountability and transparency.  ”Arizonans deserve to know their money is being

With 2023 municipal bond issuance of $59 billion, Texas wrested the title of top volume state from long-time debt behemoths New York and California. The debt, which was sold by Texas state agencies, cities, counties, schools, and others, and accounted for 15.5% of nationwide issuance, lifted the Lone Star State to the number one ranking

Medford, Oregon-based hospital nonprofit Asante Health had its A-plus rating, with negative outlook, affirmed by Fitch Ratings at year-end as it works toward completion of a new building at its flagship hospital. Fitch said in a report Tuesday that it maintained the negative outlook, first assigned in January, because “Asante continues to record weakened operational

Illinois saw an uptick in its fiscal fortunes in the past fiscal year, one of the few times the state’s net position has improved since that figure swung from black to red in to red in 2002. The net position includes tax collections and government services and measures the state’s assets relative to its total

Without the money to expand a key artery, Indiana transportation officials are pursuing what they say is an innovative plan to increase the road’s capacity without widening it. The Indiana Department of Transportation’s FlexRoad project spans a 12-mile stretch of the combined Interstate 80 and 94 from I-65 in northwest Indiana across the border to

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green unveiled last week a proposed $19.2 billion supplemental budget and the results of an oversubscribed $750 million general obligation bond sale. In his proposed budget, Green shifted some capital improvement spending from the general fund to bond funding, pointing to ongoing costs from the Aug. 8 Maui wildfire. Revenue expectations also