Colorado

Colorado state lawmakers have passed legislation designed to validate previous elections of special districts and protect them from legal challenges to their “qualified electors” who vote to create the districts and authorize issuances of tax-exempt bonds.

A Colorado lawmaker’s proposal for a $3.5 billion state road bond referendum fails in the final hours of 2016 session.

Catholic Health Initiatives, the nation’s second-largest nonprofit healthcare system, was downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service, affecting $7.3 billion of rated debt.

Colorado Senate has approved a $3.5 billion road note package that could go to voters in November.

The top-rated Denver Board of Water Commissioners will price $100 million of revenue bonds for new projects and $70 million of refunding in a competitive sale.

Despite what they say is low unemployment in their states, four governors who spoke on a panel at the Milken Institute Global conference said job creation is their main priority.

A broad ruling by the Colorado Court of Appeals in a case of a developer’s egregious fraud has sent lawyers to the state’s General Assembly for legislation to protect existing special districts that issue tax-exempt bonds.

Citing “persistent and large operating losses,” Standard & Poor’s downgraded Catholic Health Initiatives one notch to A-minus and retained a negative outlook.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature on recently passed legislation will clear a path for the University of Colorado’s $168 million issue of new money and refunding bonds.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $73.6 million of excise tax revenue refunding bonds issued by the city and county of Denver in 2009.

Sierra Club and other environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit to stop Colorado’s $1.8 billon P3 rebuild of I-70.

Denver will raise long-term financing to redevelop the National Western Complex with some of the proceeds from a $425 million issue that will include refunding.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ordered George K. Baum & Co. to pay $270,000 for charging a Colorado school district more than four times the firm’s normal underwriting fee, partly to pay for costs associated with promoting bond ballot initiatives.

Municipal bond primary market volume in the Southwest surpassed the previous record set in 2008, climbing 20% to $77.7 billion.

New tolled express lane west of Denver is meeting early expectations for congestion relief within the I-70 corridor.

Colorado business leaders are gathering support for a $3.5 billion highway bond program as the Colorado General Assembly prepares for its 2016 session.

A continuing strong economy and a return to balanced operations bring Denver Public Schools a Standard & Poor’s upgrade to AA-plus from its previous AA, analysts said.

Seven U.S. cities intend to dedicate 10% of their annual budgets toward resilience strategies under a worldwide program designed to fortify urban centers.

When the Colorado General Assembly convenes in January, lawmakers will face a $373 million shortfall that could pose risks for education, healthcare and social services.

Denver voters decide this week if they will extend taxes to help fund expansion of the downtown convention center and to upgrade the National Western Stock Show complex.