Connecticut

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy called for universal pre-kindergarten and other educational initiatives in his budget speech, as well as rainy-day and pension-fund payments

Connecticut's two largest pension funds generated investment returns exceeding 14% in 2013, Treasurer Denise Nappier announced.

Audits of two MTA commuter lines found they failed to properly manage overtime paid by funds from federal stimulus funds, said a state comptroller's report.

Armed with triple-A ratings across the board, Greenwich, Conn., will sell $130 million to fund a music auditorium, a fire station and a nursing-home renovation.

Connecticut's overall debt has fallen by 15% over the past three years, budget chief Ben Barnes said in a report that generated back-and-forth partisan sniping.

Gov. Dannel Malloy said initial $2 million funding for the Connecticut Shoreline Resiliency Fund loan program that the state Bond Commission is expected to OK.

Connecticut's sale of special tax obligation bonds generated $173.4 million of retail orders, which Treasurer Denise Nappier said was the highest under the program.

Beth Bye will succeed Toni Harp as Senate chair of the appropriations committee, Senate President Donald Williams announced.

Connecticut budget chief Benjamin Barnes said the state is fiscally sound, despite projected deficits totaling $1.4 billion in fiscal years 2016 through 2018.

By most measures the wealthiest of states, Connecticut has faced big economic challenges post-recession, Janney Capital Markets said in a report on the state's debt.

Connecticut will get $5.2 million for dam-removal projects as part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s $162 million allocation for shoreline protection.

Connecticut's issuance of variable-rate remarketed obligations, or VROs, could set a national precedent, according to state Treasurer Denise Nappier.

The retail order period began Tuesday for Connecticut's $600 million sale of Series 2013A special obligation tax bonds, with proceeds to fund transportation infrastructure projects.

Connecticut will receive an additional $65 million from HUD to bolster its Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Deborah Spalding will take over Nov. 1 as deputy chief investment officer of pension fund management for Connecticut, state Treasurer Denise Nappier announced.

Moody's Investors Service handed New Haven, Conn., its second downgrade in four months, dropping its GO bonds to A3 from A2, affecting about $510 million of debt.

Standard & Poor's raised its rating on Bridgeport, Conn.'s GO bonds to A from A-minus, citing adequate budgeting and strong liquidity.

Connecticut, which held a $575 million general obligation bond sale for GAAP conversion on Thursday, plans to follow up with a $325 million sale of GO refunding notes on Oct. 23, state Treasurer Denise Nappier said.

As Connecticut prepares to issue $575 million in general obligation bonds this week, debate simmers over how much bonding is appropriate for the state.

The two biggest rating agencies took divergent paths, whipsawing Stratford, Conn., with an upgrade and a downgrade of its general obligation rating within a 45 minute period.