Far West

Fitch Ratings assigned an A-plus rating Monday to a $147.9 million refunding planned by Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Voters in Oakland on Tuesday overwhelmingly defeated a ballot measure that would have raised $60 million in parcel taxes.

LOS ANGELES - California's local governments often complain about the state balancing its budget at their expense, but the Orange County Board of Supervisors decided to do something about it.

SAN FRANCISCO - Voter-approved pension reform measures in San Francisco and Modesto could signal a sea change in efforts by California cities to contain rising unfunded liabilities, according to Fitch Ratings.

Louisiana's entire congressional delegation and the Mississippi treasurer are urging the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service to issue guidance allowing Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds to be issued after the year ends to refund previously issued GO Zone bonds on a tax-exempt basis.

WASHINGTON - A dealer group blasted recent criticism of underwriters Wednesday, saying it is unaware of broker-dealers urging municipal issuers not to engage financial advisors, or only to work with dealer-FAs.

CHICAGO - The U.S. market for public-private partnerships remains small and fragmented, marred by hurdles like clashing legislation and political controversy, in contrast to Canada and Europe, panelists said at The Bond Buyer's Transportation/P3 Conference here.

SAN FRANCISCO - California will likely face a deficit of almost $13 billion in the next fiscal year, according to a revenue forecast released Wednesday by the Legislative Analyst's Office.

CHICAGO - With federal funding and gasoline tax revenue falling far short of meeting demand for transportation infrastructure, sector participants need to do a better job selling the public and political leaders on the perks of investment and the pitfalls of inaction.

SAN FRANCISCO - After trailing in election-night counts, a sales tax measure in Vallejo, Calif., meant to help the beleaguered city restore services has mounted a comeback in late vote tallies to take a slim lead with ballots left to be counted.