Caitlin Devitt

CHICAGO — Setting the stage for a fresh effort to repeal a sales tax increase in Cook County, Ill., Gov. Pat Quinn Saturday signed into law a measure that makes it easier for the Board of Commissioners to override the county president’s veto.

CHICAGO — Voters in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan were in the mood to say yes Tuesday, approving bond issues for a new hospital in Indianapolis, a capital improvement plan for Detroit Public Schools, and a measure allowing casinos to set up shop in Ohio’s four largest cities.

CHICAGO — Columbus, Ohio, will begin taking retail orders today on $279 million of general obligation debt in a transaction that features five series, including the city’s first Build America Bonds and recovery zone economic development bonds.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman called lawmakers back to Lincoln for a special session starting today to tackle the state’s anticipated $334 million shortfall over the 2009-2011 biennium. He also unveiled his own proposals to close the gap.

The Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council has formed a committee to recommend solutions to the ongoing deficit at the Marion County Capital Improvement Board, which oversees the city’s sports venues and convention center.

CHICAGO — Indiana has dropped a securities fraud complaint against Chrysler LLC after the automaker agreed to return $5.5 million of bonds that Tipton County issued to finance infrastructure for a now-abandoned transmission plant.

CHICAGO — The Sierra Club of Ohio is ramping up its efforts to prevent ­American Municipal Power Inc. from building a new $3.9 billion coal-fired plant in Ohio.

CHICAGO — Novi, Mich.-based Trinity Health Credit Group will enter the market today with $233 million of fixed-rate revenue bonds, followed by $102 million of variable-rate securities in two weeks to finance hospital projects in Indiana and Michigan.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Lorain County’s limited-tax general obligation debt one notch to AA-minus and the Lorain County Port Authority’s 2003A bonds — which are secured by the county’s pledge of non-ad-valorem tax revenues — to A-plus from AA-minus.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said this week she has appointed a team to review the finances of River Rouge, a move that could lead to an eventual declaration of a state of fiscal emergency.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded Lafayette to A1 from Aa3, affecting just under $5 million of outstanding general obligation debt and $25.6 million of outstanding lease rental revenue bonds. Moody’s also dropped to $5.1 million of economic development income-tax supported bonds A3 from A2 issued by the city.

The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns said this week it would begin lobbying state lawmakers for new municipal taxing authority.

CHICAGO — Cook County, Ill., board commissioners will begin this week tackling President Todd Stroger’s proposed $3.56 billion all-funds 2010 budget that includes no new taxes and limited borrowing while relying on an unpopular, year-old sales tax increase that faces possible repeal.

CHICAGO — Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she would sign the six remaining budget bills next week, completing the state’s $40 billion fiscal 2010 budget and ending a tumultuous budget season.

CHICAGO — Detroit city and school officials are promoting a controversial $500 million bond proposal for the cash-strapped Detroit Public Schools as a key to helping rebuild the struggling city.

CHICAGO — Cook County, Ill., will enter the market today with roughly $400 million of fixed-rate bonds in a transaction aimed at saving the county money by refunding a chunk of its outstanding debt and generating new money to finance the purchase of capital equipment.

CHICAGO — The Indiana Finance Authority today is expected to price $225 million of new-money revenue bonds on behalf of Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Dayton City School District’s $219 million of outstanding general obligation debt to A3 from A2 and revised the outlook to stable from negative. It also downgraded the district’s $15.4 million of outstanding certificates of participation to Baa1 from A3.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded to A1 from A2 the Cuyahoga Falls City School District’s general obligation debt.

The Democratic-led Ohio House is likely to vote as early as today on legislation that would enact Gov. Ted ­Strickland’s proposal to freeze planned income-tax cuts to help balance the budget.