Caitlin Devitt

Fitch Ratings said Detroit's offer to holders of $5.2 billion of water and sewer bonds to tender their debt as part of a bankruptcy settlement does not constitute a distressed debt exchange, an analysis that could bode well for ratings the planned refinancing of the debt.

A web site that allows interested parties to watch Detroit water and sewer muni bond tenders in near-real time is being used for the first time in the municipal bond market.

Detroit has asked the federal judge in charge of its Chapter 9 to consider forcing bond insurer Syncora Guarantee to issue an apology for suggesting that federal mediators have tainted the bankruptcy process.

Detroit Public Schools will move forward with a plan to issue $111 million of state aid notes as well as an updated deficit elimination plan that calls for 10% pay cuts and the closure of up to 24 schools.

Bond insurer Syncora Guarantee challenged Detroit's settlement with its unlimited-tax general obligation bondholders in court Tuesday, arguing that it means Detroiters will continue to pay taxes on a levy that they did not approve on the original ballot.

As Detroit gears up for a key trial on its bankruptcy exit plan next week, a long-simmering dispute over $1.4 billion of certificates of participation is just starting to heat up.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard named Greg Clark to formally take over as director of the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank to replace Deron Kintner, who is leaving the city.

The Detroit City Council has approved a series of four bond issues that include nearly $1 billion of new limited-tax GO bonds to help finance unsecured creditor settlements as part of its bankruptcy plan.

Detroit Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes pushed back the start date of a trial on the city's confirmation plan by eight days to Aug. 29, noting that the city's plan to reach a settlement with its water and sewer bondholders will likely result in a newly amended confirmation plan.

Despite strong investment gains and other improvements, a persistent underlying weakness remained the underlying theme for the non profit health care sector in 2013, according to Standard & Poor's.

Detroit asked the bankruptcy court to approve financing deals that would allow it to refinance up to $5.5 billion of water and sewer debt, providing the first glimpse of settlement details with the bondholders in the court request.

Syncora Guarantee Inc. is targeting the federal mediators who crafted the main settlement at the heart of Detroit's bankruptcy exit plan, arguing that they showed illegal and politically motivated bias toward pensioners and saving the city's art.

The mayor of the city of Warren in Macomb County has filed a lawsuit to overturn a recent ballot proposition that will phase out the personal property tax, which goes to local governments.

Michigan's Attorney General are asking the state supreme court to reconsider a recent ruling that budget officials warn ruling could cost the state up to $1.1 billion and dig a hole in the current-year budget.

Michigan is selling $266 million of state trunk line refunding bonds on Wednesday, hoping to see savings of nearly 8% on the original debt.

Detroit launched a tender offer program for holders of $5.2 billion of water and sewer bonds Thursday night, offering tender prices that range from a high of 118 cents on the dollar to a low of 72.5 cents on the dollar as it aims for a massive refinancing that will end a months-long battle with water and sewer bondholders.

Bond insurer Syncora Guarantee Inc., Detroit's fiercest opponent in the city's bankruptcy case, said it is already gearing up for appeals process assuming the city's plan is confirmed in a trial set to start later this month.

Bankrupt Detroit has floated a plan asking holders of $5.2 billion of water and sewer bonds to tender their debt, allowing the city to refinance in an effort to achieve savings.

Michigan voters Tuesday approved a proposition to phase out an unpopular business tax that funds local governments while in the Detroit region, voters passed tax increases that will stave off financial emergencies for at least two local governments and threw long-time Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano out of office.

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr is looking for private firms interested in taking over the city's parking system, where nearly half the meters are reportedly broken.