Far West

Legal and political processes must lead to pension fixes in Chicago, California, and around the country, said leaders of an advocacy group dedicated to public sector pension reform.

The San Diego Chargers have proposed a financing plan for a $1.8 billion joint use stadium-convention center in downtown San Diego that includes the issuance of $1.15 billion of tax-exempt bonds backed by a hike in the city’s hotel tax.

The National Development Council is highlighting what it describes as its proven “American model” for social infrastructure public-private partnerships, which uses tax-exempt bonds.

San Bernardino, Calif., reached a settlement agreement that gives bondholders a major haircut that is still substantially better for them than the city originally proposed in its Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Washington's legislature adjourned after passing modest adjustments to the state's previous two-year budget while taking money from an account used to help fund municipal finance deals.

In the Flint, Mich., case, Congress seems to be making clear it will increase its criticism of state and local leaders, but avoid any fiscal or moral responsibility.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority could ask voters to approve an additional half cent sales tax in addition to extending one passed in 2008 to fund $120 billion of transportation projects.

Mississippi state senators approve a placeholder measure that keeps a proposed gas tax increase on the table.

Fitch Ratings’ recent guidance on school bond ratings won’t bring across-the-board higher ratings to California school bonds; the agency will require a legal opinion to consider such GO bonds to be special revenues in a bankruptcy case.

Junk-rated California hospital chain Verity Health received an outlook boost Wednesday, when Standard & Poor’s boosted its outlook to stable from negative while affirming its CCC rating.