Yvette was a senior reporter, covering the Midwest. She earned a bachelors in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, began her reporting career at the storied City News Bureau of Chicago, and joined the Bond Buyer in 1997 leading Midwest coverage from her hometown Chicago.
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IllinoisCHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn’s effort to build support for an income tax hike to help dig Illinois out of a $12.8 billion budget hole and liquidity crisis was helped along this week by a local government watchdog group that endorsed tax increases if accompanied by $2.5 billion in spending cuts and pension reforms.
February 23 - Missouri
Fitch Ratings affirmed the Nelson Gallery Foundation’s AA rating but revised its outlook to stable from positive ahead of a $35 million refunding.
February 23 -
The Illinois Regional Transportation Authority last week warned that additional service cuts are looming if the state doesn’t soon make good on $250 million in aid payments owed to the agency.
February 23 - Minnesota
CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty late yesterday sent state lawmakers a letter warning that he intends to veto the $1 billion capital bonding bill approved by the Democrat majorities in both of the Legislature’s chambers.
February 22 -
IllinoisCHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week signed legislation that replaces the current 13-member board of the fiscally struggling Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority with a seven-member interim panel charged with reviewing how to revamp the agency’s management of Chicago’s convention center business.
February 19 -
CHICAGO — The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission enters the market this week with $185 million of Garvee bonds to complete the financing of its Safe and Sound bridge program and to fund its share of a new span across the Mississippi River.
February 19 -
Indianapolis-based Ice Miller LLP announced yesterday the addition of Bruce Agin to bolster its municipal finance tax group.
February 16 - Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week sent lawmakers legislation that calls for business tax cuts and eliminates a $1.2 billion budget deficit through spending cuts and increased federal Medicaid funds not yet approved by Congress.
February 16 -
Moody's Investors Service assigned a negative outlook last week to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's outstanding limited-tax general obligation debt, saying it faces a number of economic and fiscal challenges, including depleted reserves and a steep decline in its main revenue source.
February 16 - Michigan
Troy and Bloomfield Township voters in a special election next week will consider ballot initiatives to raise property taxes to avoid cuts. Officials say the new revenue is needed to cover expected declines in property tax revenue over the next several years.
February 16 - Illinois
Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook to stable from positive on Bethel Terrace Apartments' Baa3 rating due to a significant decrease in investment earnings.
February 16 - Illinois
Moody's Investors Service downgraded the Springfield Park District's debt to Baa1 from A3 and assigned a negative outlook due to the district's narrowed financial position.
February 16 -
A DuPage County Circuit Court judge last week handed over the title of St. Johannes Cemetery to Chicago, advancing the city's effort to clear a path for one of several new runways planned as part of the $8 billion expansion of O'Hare International Airport.
February 16 - Illinois
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley last week ordered city departments to cut non-personnel spending by 6% to save $11 million as economically sensitive revenues like the sales tax and real estate tax have failed to pick up.
February 16 -
IllinoisCHICAGO — Illinois later this week will refund up to $1.4 billion of general obligation bonds in a deal that should provide some small but much-needed debt service savings as Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers move to begin addressing the state’s liquidity and budget crisis.
February 12 -
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority board this week signed off on the agency’s planned sale of $550 million of sales tax-backed, mostly taxable Build America Bonds to finance the acquisition of new rail cars.
February 11 - Minnesota
CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty outlined a broad legislative agenda yesterday in his final state of the state address, which focused on job creation, cutting taxes for employers, reining in government spending and eliminating a $1.2 billion budget deficit through cuts.
February 11 -
CHICAGO — The Illinois Finance Authority this week advanced plans for $750 million of health care borrowing planned by Alexian Brothers Health System, the University of Chicago Medical Center, Palos Community Hospital, and a continuing-care community.
February 10 -
CHICAGO — The fiscal strain in Illinois that has led to record long bill payment delays this week prompted Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade five of eight state-supported universities that are owed $735 million by the state.
February 10 - Minnesota
CHICAGO — As the Minnesota Senate moved yesterday to advance a $1 billion capital budget, Moody’s Investors Service sent a credit warning by shifting its outlook on the state’s Aa1 rating to negative due to ongoing fiscal weakness and heavy reliance on one-shots to balance its books.
February 9
