Indiana

A key city-county council committee approved a controversial plan last week to expand Indianapolis’ large, lucrative downtown tax-increment financing district.

Local communities in eight states with a stake in the controversial mostly bond-financed Prairie State Energy coal project in Illinois could face fiscal stress due to the higher than projected rates they are paying and future financial risks, a new report from an pro-environmental group warns.

Citizens Energy, the nonprofit utility that bought Indianapolis' water and sewer systems last year, will come to market Thursday with the first of what is expected to be regular sewer bond borrowings to finance a $1.7 billion, 13-year environmental compliance capital plan.

Outgoing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week asked the state's three gubernatorial candidates for their input on steps to implementing the new federal health care law.

Indiana last week released its final request for proposals for the East End Crossing of the massive $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.

Deron Kintner, who has overseen Indianapolis' borrowing arm since 2010, is leaving to become Mayor Greg Ballard's deputy mayor for economic development.

Moody's Investors Service last week affirmed its A1 rating on the Indianapolis Museum of Art and revised the outlook to negative from stable, saying the facility faces several challenges.

Indiana's Purdue University will sell $58 million of student-fee bonds Wednesday in the first of two August deals to raise money for capital needs.

Indianapolis-based City Securities Corp. has hired former Raymond James/Morgan Keegan banker and group manager Linda Matkowski to manage its public finance banking team as the 86-year-old firm seeks to expand its reach deeper into the Midwest.

Moody's Revised its Outlook to Stable from Negative on A1-rated Indianapolis Airport Authority, citing strong financial performance.

Budget officials in the two Midwest states report good news heading into fiscal 2013, as the states benefit from better-than-expected revenues. Both states will deposit the surpluses into rainy-day funds.

With the final step in the federal environmental review process completed this week, the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project will allow Kentucky and Indiana to award construction contracts before the end of the year and the spans will serve to ease congestion across the Ohio River, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

CHICAGO — Indiana budget officials will hire Deloitte to conduct an audit into how the state’s Revenue Department lost track of $526 million of tax revenue in a pair of high-profile accounting errors that embarrassed Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s former chief of staff has joined Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.

WASHINGTON — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels made the rounds in the nation’s capitol Thursday, urging lawmakers to pass a transportation bill friendly to public-private partnerships and telling reporters that he fears there might not be a bill at all.

The Indianapolis Public Schools board last week approved a plan to lay off 163 employees to help close a $27 million shortfall.

As Indiana spends down $3.8 billion generated by its 2006 lease of the Indiana Toll Road, the state has a series of new public-private partnerships in the pipeline that underscore its continued reliance on the technique to provide financing for transportation infrastructure projects.

Moody’s Investors Service last week affirmed its A1 rating on the Parkview Health System and revised the outlook to stable from negative, noting the system’s improved operating performance.

Indiana on Monday announced a list of four possible teams for the Ohio River Bridges project.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Federal Highway Administration Friday approved a supplemental environmental impact statement that is a significant milestone toward starting construction on portions of the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project later this year.