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.”
- Pennsylvania
Teetering Scranton, Pa., closes on a deal with Amalgamated to borrow $6.25 million in tax-anticipation notes, which the city says will bring short-term relief.
By Paul BurtonAugust 31 -
Amid a court order to raise an earned-income tax, Harrisburg, Pa'.s City Council could seek an injunction, ask for clarification or refuse and risk contempt.
By Paul BurtonAugust 29 - Rhode Island
Moody's on Tuesday changed its outlook on Woonsocket, R.I. to negative while confirming its B2 general obligation bond rating.
By Paul BurtonAugust 28 -
Harrisburg, Pa.'s City Council and its lawyer are discussing whether to appeal a state court ruling that requires it to double the earned income tax.
By Paul BurtonAugust 28 -
Rhode Island's Economic Development Corp., whose $75 million loan guarantee to company 38 Studios has taxpayers on the hook, took a step toward legal action.
By Paul BurtonAugust 28 -
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has granted a motion by Harrisburg, Pa.'s receiver William Lynch to force the City Council to double its earned-income tax as part of the financial recovery plan in the state capital.
By Paul BurtonAugust 27 -
Harrisburg controller Dan Miller says the tax increase receiver William Lynch seeks in court won't rescue Pennsylvania's capital city from the financial abyss.
By Paul BurtonAugust 27 -
Central Falls, R.I., could exit Chapter 9 next week after a mere 13 months. Its quick march does not surprise the city's bankruptcy attorney, Ted Orson.
By Paul BurtonAugust 27 -
Moody's called a court ruling invalidating the New York MTA's payroll mobility tax a credit negative, while Standard & Poor's is maintaining its credit rating.
By Paul BurtonAugust 27 -
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority needs "net-zero" settlements with its labor union and to implement fare and toll increases to keep budget gaps from resurfacing and rising, Fitch Ratings said.
By Paul BurtonAugust 24 -
Moody's Investors Service downgraded Lowell General Hospital's debt to Baa2 from Baa1 and removed the rating from under review.
By Paul BurtonAugust 24 -
Scranton, Pa.'s City Council approved its financial recovery plan moments after landing a $6.2 million tax-anticipation notes deal from Amalgamated Bank.
By Paul BurtonAugust 24 -
A legal battle over the ability of a state-appointed receiver to force capital city Harrisburg to increase taxes played out in a Pennsylvania court.
By Paul BurtonAugust 23 - Rhode Island
In an interview at the state capitol in Providence, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee discusses challenges cities and towns face in the nation's smallest state.
By Paul BurtonAugust 23 - New York
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. endorsed a proposal to build a hockey and figure-skating center at the site of the old Kingsbridge Armory.
By Paul BurtonAugust 23 -
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to appeal a court ruling that negated its payroll mobility tax and could cost it $1.2 billion.
By Paul BurtonAugust 23 -
Harrisburg, Pa., could miss another general obligation bond payment in mid-September in order to make payroll and could run out of cash altogether by the end of next month.
By Paul BurtonAugust 22 -
Pennsylvania's Senate has delayed its hearings on Harrisburg incinerator bond financings, and seeks more detail from parties uncooperative toward a local audit.
By Paul BurtonAugust 21 - Pennsylvania
Joe Watkins of Philadelphia will take over as recovery officer for Chester Upland's school district, which Pennsylvania officials have deemed distressed.
By Paul BurtonAugust 21 -
The state Supreme Court's invalidation of New York City's law expanding yellow cab service to all boroughs could create a $1.4 billion budget gap.
By Paul BurtonAugust 20

