Rich Saskal

SAN FRANCISCO — Riverside County, Calif., finance director Paul McDonnell will return to the private sector as a managing director at financial adviser C.M. de Crinis & Co., the firm announced last week.

The Port of Seattle’s commissioners Tuesday agreed to move forward with a solicitation for financial advisory services.

A developer of cow manure-to-natural gas facilities financed by tax-exempt debt is continuing to negotiate with bondholders as it attempts to keep its business afloat, according to a news release announcing its third-quarter results.

A bankruptcy judge in Santa Rosa gave final approval Friday to a liquidation plan for the assets of Copia, the failed tax-exempt bond financed nonprofit wine museum in the city of Napa.

SAN FRANCISCO — California Controller John Chiang delivered a rare piece of good news this week in his monthly general fund cash report, saying the state beat its budget ­estimates for October.

SAN FRANCISCO — Voters in Washington State last week rejected a ballot measure to limit governments’ revenue growth, while voters in Seattle split nearly down the middle in trying to pick their next mayor.

SAN FRANCISCO — The next storm in an ongoing blizzard of California state paper comes Tuesday, when the California Statewide Communities Development Authority will price a deficit-­driven deal in the $1.5 billion range.

Gov. Jim Gibbons Tuesday announced one new appointment and one reappointment to the Nevada Board of Finance, which among other duties is charged with approving all state-issued debt, including bonds.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have an opportunity to nominate a new lieutenant governor, as the current officeholder, John Garamendi, won a special election Tuesday for the U.S. House.

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday issued one-notch downgrades to bonds issued by Palomar Pomerado Health, a hospital district in San Diego County.

SAN FRANCISCO — After a session that lasted until 6:00 yesterday morning, California lawmakers signed a massive water infrastructure package that includes an $11.1 billion general obligation bond measure.

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Senate, poised to convert years of water policy debates into legislation, approved bills late Monday that include a $9.99 billion bond measure.

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a strange day yesterday in the world of California finance, as the state treasurer’s office announced a sudden Build America Bonds sale while the state’s finance director said he planned to resign.

SAN FRANCISCO — California this afternoon abruptly announced plans to price $750 million of taxable general obligation Build America Bonds tomorrow.

Montana’s Legislative Finance Committee Monday named Amy Carlson as the state’s new chief fiscal analyst.

The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California plans its fourth forum Wednesday morning in a series created to assess the performance and progress of California’s 2006 infrastructure bonds.

The most talked about piece of legislation this week in California is a state bill that would have made technical changes to facilitate the Port of San Francisco’s plans to create infrastructure financing districts.

A group committed to calling a constitutional convention for California submitted its proposed ballot language Wednesday.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A bankruptcy judge indicated this week that he is likely to approve a liquidation plan for the assets of Copia, the failed Napa, Calif. nonprofit wine museum.

SAN FRANCISCO — California is moving forward with plans to sell 11 state-owned office buildings to investors who would lease them back to the state.