Michelle Kaske

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Friday fired Bret Schundler as education commissioner after a video showed that Schundler did not provide federal officials with requested information in the state’s submission for federal Race to the Top funds, even though Christie had previously insisted he did.

Puerto Rico should consider cutting employee benefits, boosting employee contributions and implementing a special tax to shore up its pension system, according to a report Wednesday from the Center for the New Economy.

The Harrisburg City Council Tuesday night tabled two nominees to the Harrisburg Authority’s board, continuing a political standoff with the mayor that has left the board without a quorum and bondholders with an uncertain future.

Newark, N.J., officials are considering selling certain properties to the Essex County Improvement Authority in a lease-back arrangement to help balance the fiscal 2010 budget.

The New Jersey Treasury Department received 12 responses from financial advisers to a request for proposals as the state looks to defease outstanding general obligation bonds.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are in disagreement over payments the turnpike makes to PennDOT under Act 44.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell Monday proposed implementing a profits tax on oil companies and raising motor vehicle fees to generate more than $1 billion per year to help finance road, bridge, and mass transit needs throughout the state.

New Hampshire Wednesday plans to issue $150 million of tax-exempt general obligation bonds via competitive bid in the state’s annual new-money sale.

When Massachusetts issued its first-ever taxable general obligation Build America Bond deal in December it did so in a negotiated transaction and paid a premium to Treasuries of 120 basis points for 30-year debt.

Gov. Chris Christie last week signed into law a bill to create the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, which will transform an 1,100-acre Army base in northeastern New Jersey for civilian use.

Moody's Investors Service last week downgraded $1.1 billion of New Jersey cigarette tax bonds to Baa3 from Baa2. The outlook is negative.

A poll this week of 504 Pennsylvania residents shows that 95% of participants believe that the quality of the state's transportation is extremely, very, or somewhat important to the state's economy. Overall, 69% of those polled said that the state should increase its spending on roads, bridges, and highways, Republican pollster Frank Luntz said during a press conference with Gov. Edward Rendell Thursday on the survey.

The Delaware River Port Authority is embarking on a series of reforms intended to professionalize the bi-state agency, which has been the subject of allegations of fiscal mismanagement, and avoid similar problems in the future.

Scott Balice Strategies LLC will advise Harrisburg, Pa., on the refinancing of $282 million of Harrisburg Authority incinerator debt as the agency continues to operate without a board.

Massachusetts is set Wednesday to issue via competitive bid $358 million of taxable general obligation Build America Bonds and $1.2 billion of tax-exempt GO revenue anticipation notes.

Moody’s Investors Service Friday placed Newark, N.J.’s general obligation bond rating on review for possible downgrade as the city has less than three months to close a $70 million current-year budget deficit.

The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority last week received responses from 13 consortiums looking to upgrade the commonwealth’s water and sewer infrastructure.

Philadelphia is looking for a new budget director as Stephen Agostini will leave the post later this month to serve as chief financial officer for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Fitch Ratings last week revised its outlook on Jersey City to stable from positive due to high fixed costs, reductions in state aid, and a new 2% property levy cap that the city will have to adhere to.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is looking for $32.5 million of federal funds to help finance added rail capacity at Boston’s South Station.