Far West

A team of El Paso, Texas, officials and advisors spent last week traveling to New York and Washington, D.C., to trumpet their planned nearly half a billion dollar bond-financed overhaul of the city's downtown area, which they see as a major game-changer for their region.

Twelve organizations representing the 501(c)(3) bond community submitted comments to a House Ways and Means tax reform working group urging them to protect tax-exempt bond financing.

A new push is underway in the California Legislature to reinvigorate local economic development financing after the shutdown of redevelopment agencies.

A report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials details the funding plans of 30 states, including some creative options.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged the chief executive officer of a Chicago-based advisory firm with lying to the California Public Employers' Retirement System and other clients about the amount of money managed by the firm.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System approved new actuarial policies that are anticipated to raise costs for already-strapped municipalities.

Nevada, Wyoming and Texas received high marks in a Morningstar report on how their state permanent fund programs affect credit analysis of individual bonds.

Kirk Caldwell, mayor of Honolulu City and County, turned down a raise recommended by the region's salary commission in effect agreeing to a 9% pay cut.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on San Francisco to stable from negative on an improved budget and reserves.

Critics of a proposal to build a 250-room hotel and conference center on the University of California at Los Angeles campus challenged its tax-exempt status in court.