Randall Jensen

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Wednesday a pension reform bill that should help ease the burden of rising retirement costs on the state and local governments over the long-term.

Moody's Investors Service said Monday that the California's recently passed pension reform legislation is a positive for the state's credit.

California's new pension reform legislation is a significant step forward for the Golden State, though the changes will take a long time, rating analysts say.

Washington's Economic and Review Forecast Council, the state's budget revenue forecaster, named Stephen Lerch as executive director.

Hyatt won the recommendation of the Portland Metro Council's staff to build a 600-room hotel next to the city's convention center.

California Controller John Chiang said in a report that the California State Teachers' Retirement System does not provide enough oversight.

Legislation that is still in the pipeline includes a potential substitute for redevelopment agencies, an extension of Los Angeles County's Metropolitan Transportation Authority sales tax, and changes to school district bond anticipation note financing.

San Bernardino officials have presented a budget plan to pay for city services while in bankruptcy that leaves debt service payments untouched.

Reno, Nev. redevelopment officials are trying to come to a compromise with Washoe County over tax revenue in order to make debt service requirements.

California Controller John Chiang released reports Tuesday finding unallowable transfers by the redevelopment agencies of Milpitas and Morgan Hill.

California's state auditor released a report this week that said the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's use of toll revenues to purchase a building to serve as a new San Francisco headquarters was likely legal.

California Gov. Jerry Brown laid out Tuesday a pension reform agreement with lawmakers, setting the table for major legislative changes to local and state worker pensions.

California's state auditor wants lawmakers to clarify the law to make sure private firms operating conduit issuers avoid conflicts of interest.

Attorneys for Stockton, Calif., and its creditors hammered out a schedule and tipped their hats to the fight ahead during the first hearing on the city's bankruptcy case.

California saw debt sales by municipal issuers almost double in the region in the first half of 2012 compared to a year earlier with the help of record low rates, driving Far West volume.

Standard & Poor's has changed its outlook on Fairfield, Calif.'s pension obligation bonds long-term A rating to negative from stable due to the city's projected large budget gap.

Santa Cruz County has said it may have to draw on bond reserves to make a Sept. 1 debt service payment for redevelopment bonds if it is forced to make the payments of former redevelopment tax money as outlined by California.

Standard & Poor's downgraded Fresno, Calif.'s issuer rating to BBB from A due to its continued weak finances.

California's state auditor said in a report Tuesday that San Jose officials provided "inadequately supported" estimates in bond documents that said its retirement costs would increase to $400 million by fiscal 2016.

California says 27 local governments owe more than $120 million of redevelopment agency tax money.