Yvette Shields

Chicago last week said its hotel occupancy tax is up by 4.9% so far this year after an especially strong September.

A local government fiscal and budget watchdog group endorsed DuPage County, Ill.'s proposed $432 million 2013 budget, which leaves a healthy fund balance intact while also holding the line on its property tax levy and reducing headcount.

A Wisconsin judge has refused the state's request to stay during the appeals process his ruling that overturned portions of a controversial law curtailing bargaining rights for most public unions.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will refund $142 million of bonds this week in a deal that marks the final under the fiscal stewardship of treasurer Karl Tyminski.

The top- Metropolitan Council enters the market this week to refund some debt and raise $100 million in interim financing for its $957 million light-rail line that will link the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

After an eight-year lull in state revolving fund borrowing, Illinois is poised to return to the market next year to fund low-cost loans to municipalities under a $1 billion Clean Water Initiative launched by Gov. Pat Quinn.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority unveiled a proposed $1.5 billion budget for 2013 that banks on $1 billion in borrowing to finance projects planned under the system's $12 billion capital program.

Wisconsin will take competitive bids Wednesday on $302 million of general obligation bonds with a $250 million taxable appropriation-backed sale waiting in the wings.

Coralville's fiscal struggles drove Moody's Investors Service to sharply downgrade the Iowa city's water and sewer revenue bond ratings.

The November ballot in Illinois will ask voters if the state constitution should be amended to require a three-fifths vote by the General Assembly or a local government to enhance public pension benefits.

Chicago will seek independent audits to assess the operational and financial management of its asset leases beginning with its controversial $1.15 billion 2009 parking meter concession contract.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pressuring state lawmakers to adopt pension reforms to shore up the city's underfunded employee retirement obligations.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday replaced his hand-picked schools chief after just 17 months on the job with the district's interim chief education officer in a move that comes shortly after a bruising teachers' strike that has taken a toll on the district's bond ratings

Chicago Mayor Emanuel rolled out an $8.3 billion budget for 2013 that closes a $300 million deficit without tax hikes, but he also painted a stark picture of the fiscal reckoning in 2015 when pensions will consume $1.2 billion of revenue.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to negative on Des Moines' Aa2 sewer enterprise bond rating.

A dispute between Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over who should lead the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority escalated this week when the governor accused the mayor of tarnishing the reputation of his pick.

After a teacher strike, Chicago Public Schools will cover this year's $103 million price tag for the labor contract in part with debt restructuring and capitalized interest bond proceeds.

The Art Institute of Chicago plans to enter the market as soon as Wednesday to sell a mix of taxable new-money and tax-exempt refunding bonds that will reduce the museum's floating-rate risks and allow it to accelerate its pension funding plans.

Chicago Teachers Union members overwhelming approved the new four-year, $295 million contract that ended a seven-day strike last month but will further strain the already cash-strapped district.

Chicago-based veteran analyst Peter Stettler has joined the municipal credit analytic team at BMO Capital Markets.