Yvette Shields

CHICAGO — Kansas City, Mo., will enter the market later this month with a $55 million new-money and refunding general obligation issue that comes as the city is bracing for a public vote next month on whether the city can continue to collect an earnings tax that serves as its main revenue source.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker late last month signed legislation that requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to approve tax hikes.

The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability is accepting proposals for consulting services through Friday to aid the state as it considers shifting more of the costs for retiree health care to beneficiaries.

Court hearings on a lawsuit challenging Chicago’s authority to proceed with $3.36 billion worth of expansion projects at O’Hare International Airport without airline approval have been pushed back due to ongoing settlement negotiations.

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday dropped his proposal for an income tax surcharge on top earners after the state announced a new revenue forecast that trimmed nearly $1.2 billion off the $6.2 billion deficit looming in the next two-year budget cycle.

CHICAGO — An Iowa water district’s long-awaited plan to restructure $140 million of debt — including $83 million of water revenue bonds — is now on hold due to litigation filed by Bank of America Corp. in an attempt to block a pending asset sale.

CHICAGO — Illinois received $6.1 billion in bids from 128 investors on its sale this week of $3.7 billion of taxable eight-year general obligation bonds to cover its 2011 pension contribution, a level the state touts as a sign of investor confidence following an income tax increase.

Former Illinois congressman and presidential chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will take office as Chicago's next mayor in May, inheriting daunting fiscal challenges as a new era in city government is ushered in that could shake up the local public finance field.

CHICAGO — Wisconsin lawmakers reconvened Tuesday with the clock ticking on Gov. Scott Walker's plan to restructure $165 million of debt service due May 1.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Hamline University's rating to Baa2 from Baa1 due to its highly leveraged balance sheet. The move affects $56 million of debt, including this week's $26 million issued through the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission expects insurance to cover most of the $19 million price tag for a new roof on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

A hearing has been pushed back a week to March 1 on Chicago's motion asking a Cook County Circuit Court judge to dismiss a suit challenging the city's authority to proceed with $3.36 billion worth of expansion projects at O'Hare International Airport without airline approval.

CHICAGO — Menasha would pay holders of $23 million of defaulted steam-plant bond anticipation notes $17.5 million under a proposed cash settlement that would end bondholder litigation and put the Wisconsin city on a path towards rebuilding its credit.

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Richard Daley on Thursday questioned the sincerity of American Airlines and United Airlines' willingness to meet with him in an attempt to resolve differences over the timing and financing of $3.36 billion worth of expansion projects at O'Hare International Airport.

CHICAGO — In his inaugural state of the state address, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker vowed to eliminate a budget deficit of more than $3 billion in the next biennium without “short-term fixes” like borrowing. He also called on state employees to shoulder a greater share of their pension and health care costs.

CHICAGO — The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the state’s request for a temporary stay against enforcement of a lower court decision invalidating the state’s $31 billion capital budget and the funding streams that support capital borrowing.

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will meet with executives at American Airlines and United Airlines Thursday as a legal standoff over $3.36 billion worth of expansion projects at O’Hare International Airport drags on.

The Green Bay-Brown County Professional Football Stadium District earlier this month announced plans to prepay in February some of the bonds it issued for the 2003 renovation of Lambeau Field, putting the district on track to fully retire its bonds later this year.

The Yorkville City Council last week voted against asking residents to cover a $264,000 shortage in revenue needed in the city’s sewer fund to cover debt payments coming due next year, according to published reports.

Gov. Pat Quinn last week signed Medicaid reform legislation aimed at saving Illinois at least $624 million over five years.