Hawaii

New Jersey and Illinois have the lowest state bond ratings. But all three states have been ramping up pension contributions, according to S&P Global Ratings.

Private activity bonds for a coffee farm and general obligation bonds for an emergency center were cut with Gov. David Ige's veto pen.

Maui County's mayor now has to approve or veto the budget before the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

As summer beckons, it's time for a reporters' roundtable with some of the Bond Buyer's senior staff. Yvette Shields, Karen Pierog, Keeley Webster and Thomas Nocera talk with Chip Barnett about what's hot in their regions and what municipal bond market participants should expect to see in the months ahead. (25 minutes)

Issuers in California sold more than $86 billion of municipal bonds in 2021.

A whopping 27% increase in revenues in the second half of fiscal year 2021 sets the state up to replenish its reserves and restore positions cut during the pandemic.

The consequences of climate change for this island state are broadly evident. So is its official response.

With a lot of cash still needing to be put to work, the Investment Company Institute showed another large week of inflows at $1.814 billion.

Month-to-date returns for municipals are in the red with the Bloomberg Fixed Income Indices municipal index returning -0.12%, high-yield at -0.15% and taxables at -0.32%.

Both S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service lifted their outlooks, citing a rebound from pandemic-driven budget pressures.

Other post-employment liabilities are more material problems for one in ten state and local governments, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Honolulu plans to price $725.4 million of double-A-plus GOs next week; a significant chunk of the deal will support Oahu's troubled rail transit project.

Hawaii lawmakers made changes to the budget this week in response to a flurry of vetoes from Gov. David Ige.

Hawaii lawmakers approved the budget before Treasury guidance banned the use of federal funds for debt payments or reserves.

Under Hawaii's system, the governor, David Ige, signals his intent to veto and then negotiates with lawmakers before making them formal.

A reported preliminary 25.8% drop in May issuance shows how strong fund inflows, improving credit and the reopening of governments are keeping the muni market issuer friendly.

Strong technicals have been the theme, and with federal aid and better-than-expected tax receipts coming in, issuers are not tapping the market as much as investors would hope.

States are well-positioned to emerge from COVID-19, the investment firm said in its annual grading.

Tax-exempt bonds issued for a private hospital system in Honolulu fell further into junk territory with S&P Global Ratings downgrading the bonds to CCC from B-minus.

Far West municipal issuers sold $99.1 billion of debt last year, a 16% increase from 2019.