Chip Barnett

Florida's economy is stabilizing from the COVID-19 pandemic, but nature and man may bring other threats to its recovery.

The Big Apple faces an uncertain economic future as many white-collar workers remain at home and the return to office movement takes hold only slowly.

The deal priced into a market that has seen rising rates for municipal bonds along with record high oil and gas prices.

Emily Brock, director of the federal liaison center at the Government Finance Officers Association, takes time out to talk with Chip Barnett at The Bond Buyer’s National Outlook Conference about infrastructure spending. She also looks at the possibility of Congress approving the return of tax-exempt advance refundings and the SEC and MSRB’s focus on issuers ESG disclosures. (17 minutes)

The City Council on Wednesday began the first of a series of hearings on Mayor Eric Adams' $98.5 billion preliminary fiscal 2023 budget.

Moody's said the upgrade reflects continuing strong revenue and liquidity trends, completion of a debt-reduction program and increased pension contributions.

A report from CreditSights says risks will increase for coastal issuers of municipal bonds with increased flooding at high tides and during storms.

North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell talks with The Bond Buyer's Chip Barnett about how the state's economy has remained in financially good health despite dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as well how the state deals with troubled municipalities. As chair of the debt affordability commission, he chats about bond issuance. He also discusses the ways to reform healthcare and increase transparency. (15 minutes)

Fitch also affirmed the city’s AA-minus general obligation bond and issuer default ratings.

Municipal bond issuance in the region was down 11.7% year-over-year in 2021, as new money, refunding, taxable and tax-exempt volume all slipped.

Moody's Investors Service said the upgrade reflected the university's robust, sustainable operating margins supported by consistent growth in tuition revenue.

Overall volume in the Southeast rose 1.8% last year even as taxable issuance plunged and refunding deals shriveled up.

Credit strengths include strong market position and service area economic fundamentals and an expected continued strong finance performance.

To help the city recover faster, former Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch has proposed a dedicated state-approved revenue stream to provide additional funding for the transit system.

Graceland drew on reserves to cover the Jan. 1 payment on two bond series and three other series were unable to make their interest payments.

The proposed issuance would refinance some of the New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority’s outstanding bonds.

Despite competitive and demographic headwinds, Villanova's strong academic reputation as a selective private university will support student demand, Moody’s said.

The Volcker Alliance looks at the state’s outstanding municipal bonds and $83 billion in other obligations and suggests improved transparency and oversight.

Gross savings from the transaction is expected to be $378 million, or about $11 million a year, which would result in around $250 million in net present value debt service savings.

S&P Global Ratings has revised the outlook to positive from stable on the Bluegrass State and affirmed the A issuer credit rating.