Far West

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Wednesday a pension reform bill that should help ease the burden of rising retirement costs on the state and local governments over the long-term.

The House Financial Services Committee passed a municipal advisor bill Wednesday after striking a requirement that MAs have written agreements with issuers, one of the bill's most contentious provisions.

State treasurers voted Monday to urge Moody's Investors Service to carefully consider the consequences of its proposed changes to analyzing public-sector pension data, warning it will muddy already complicated pension issues for the public and financial markets.

Virginia Treasurer Manju Ganeriwala has been elected president of the National Association of State Treasurers for 2013.

Oakdale, Calif., looks to restructure debt and raise sewer rates after missing the Aug. 31 debt service payment on a state revolving loan connected to its 2002 sewer revenue bonds.

Moody's Investors Service said Monday that the California's recently passed pension reform legislation is a positive for the state's credit.

Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp was awarded the 2012 Jesse Unruh Award for her outstanding service to her profession and her state.

San Bernardino officials approved a pre-pendency budget plan to pay bills until a bankruptcy petition is approved, but bankruptcy documents filed by city staff on Aug. 31 outline just how far city leaders will have to go to get the city back on sound financial ground.

A property tax settlement between Reno, Washoe County and Washoe County School District means the Reno RDA can make bond payments through 2018.

California's new pension reform legislation is a significant step forward for the Golden State, though the changes will take a long time, rating analysts say.