Alaska

Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Angela Rodell has appointed the state's former comptroller to lead the treasury division.

State budgets seem to be "stabilizing and settling into a period of modest growth," but recovery from the Great Recession is still "a work in progress," a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures found.

The municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, received Standard & Poor's top rating based on improved finances and the agency's new local general obligation bond criteria.

The Alaska Municipal Bond Bank is planning to sell $77 million of general obligation bonds to help local governments finance school and water projects throughout the state.

Sales of municipal bonds in the Far West region grew by almost 11% during the first half of 2013 compared to a year earlier as low rates continued to drive volume.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Alaska's Airport System revenue bonds due to a slowdown in global air cargo.

The Alaska Student Loan Corporation is challenging the Internal Revenue Service's decision that $529.1 million of education loan revenue bonds are not tax exempt.

Moody's Investors Service said triple-A rated Alaska appears in good shape to overhaul its tax on oil production.

Unexpectedly strong income tax revenues are outpacing the growth in sales taxes receipts during the tepid economic recovery differing from previous recoveries when the opposite was true, according to a Standard & Poor's report.

Alaska's legislature this week passed legislation pushed by Gov. Sean Parnell that would cut oil taxes and cost the state billions.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $529.1 million of education loan revenue bonds issued by the Alaska Student Loan Corporation from 2003 through 2012.

Sales of municipal bonds in the Far West region grew by almost a quarter in 2012 compared to a year ago, spurred by record low interest rates that led to an increase in refinancing.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing some 2002 auction rate securities issued by an Alaska authority and has closed an audit of some 2006 Louisiana transportation bonds with no change to their tax-exempt status.

Moody's Investors Service placed tobacco settlement revenue bonds of issuers in 17 states and two territories under review with direction uncertain because of legal settlement announced in December. The action affects $20.5 billion of debt.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell proposed legislation this week to overhaul the state oil tax structure.

Alaska will sell $164 million of bonds next week after getting an upgrade to AAA by Fitch. The state now has triple-A ratings across the board.

Alaska voters appeared likely to approve a $453 million transportation bond, based on early returns.

Alaska voters will decide on a $453 million transportation bond next week.

Alaska voters decide on a $453 million transportation bond next month, though questions remain over a project at the Port of Anchorage that would receive $50 million in bond proceeds.

Fitch Ratings said in a report Tuesday it kept $65 million Anchorage, Alaska sewer revenue bonds at AA.