Paul Burton is the Northeast Regional Editor for The Bond Buyer. His major coverage has included New York City and MTA finances; the Harrisburg, Pa., debt crisis; the 38 Studios bond financing fiasco in Rhode Island; and unfunded pension liability. Paul hosts podcasts and videos and has moderated at Bond Buyer conferences. Previously, Paul was senior editor and copy chief at M&A-oriented financial media company The Deal LLC. His award-winning career has spanned financial, sports and political journalism. A Boston native, Paul is the author of the book “Tales from the Newsrooms.” He is a frequent public speaker and has appeared as an expert on municipal debt on radio and television shows, including former CBS News White House correspondent Sharyl Attkisson’s public-affairs program, “Full Measure.”
- New York
Projected higher tax revenues and pension savings may narrow New York City's outyear budget gaps, according to city Comptroller Scott Stringer.
July 28 -
New York's MTA proposed a $14.2 billion fiscal 2015 budget and four-year financial plan that assumes an average annual increase of $260 million to labor costs stemming from two settlements.
July 28 - Massachusetts
Cronyism and endemic conflicts of interest make the pension fund of Greater Boston transit employees a cautionary tale, said a report by Pioneer Institute.
July 28 -
The finance committee of New York's MTA approved a motion to issue special obligation taxable refunding bonds that would fully pay defeased bonds at their early redemption rate and could save the authority $32 million.
July 28 - New York
New York Citys five public employee pension funds returned 17.4% for fiscal 2014 to bring their total value to a record-high $160.5 billion, Comptroller Scott Stringer said.
July 28 - Connecticut
The Connecticut Bond Commission approved the authorization of nearly $15 million in funding for nonprofit organizations.
July 25 -
Brian Zwerner, former manager of Bank of America's municipal derivatives trading desk, received three years' probation and a $10,000 fine for mini bond bid-rigging
July 25 -
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge will hear a petition by bondholders to oppose receivership for Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, saying the city is using the process to cram them down.
July 25 -
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital funding gap may exceed $12 billion, according to a report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
July 24 -
The Connecticut Bond Commission is expected to approve $3 million to fund short-term fixes to the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, said Gov. Dannel Malloy.
July 24 -
Having dropped the stigmatized Harrisburg Authority name, Capital Region Water of Pennsylvania is shooting for an investment-grade rating within 18 to 24 months. Meanwhile, the unrated is selling debt with the help of credit enhancement.
July 24 - New York
AlliedBarton agreed to pay more than $1.3 million to cover a prevailing-wage discrepancy, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said.
July 23 - New York
Sonia Toledo of Wells Fargo Securities was elected president of the Municipal Forum of New York, heading an all-female slate of officers.
July 23 - New York
Stern Brothers & Co., which advised on a recent $500 million MTA bond sale, hired former New York City Councilman David Weprin and added Neal Oldendorp in New Jerey.
July 22 - Connecticut
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has honored Connecticut's Treasury Department for excellence in financial reporting
July 22 - Pennsylvania
Moody's downgrade of Pennsylvania could precede more bond rating action against Pennsylvania as unfunded pension liability hovers over the commonwealth.
July 22 -
A special commission brainstormed about the long-term prospects for New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, one of the largest municipal issuers. The authority is in need of modern thinking about how to finance and provide its services, many members said.
July 22 - Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency has received a $3.9 million federal grant under the credit enhancement for charter schools facilities program.
July 18 -
Shortly after the sighs of relief that followed the Long Island Railroad labor contract announcement, skeptics questioned how it will be paid for without fare hikes or cutting into Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital funding.
July 18 -
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and negotiators announced a deal to avert a Long Island Rail Road strike that loomed three days away.
July 17
