Massachusetts

The University of Massachusetts Building Authority plans a $270 million bond sale to benefit capital projects at the system's five campuses statewide.

Boston plans to sell $176 million of tax-exempt, fixed-rate general obligation bonds, with the new-money component to benefit its capital improvement plan.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will come to market with roughly $289 million of general revenue refunding bonds through negotiation.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded Boston University to A1 from A2 on Tuesday.

After falling less than the national bond market in 2011, the Northeast bounced back less than that market in 2012.

Massachusetts' pension fund returned nearly 14% in 2012 and exceeded its benchmark by 84 basis points, its board reported.

Standard & Poor's raised its long-term rating and underlying rating on the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's bonds issued for Clark University to A-plus from A.

Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising income taxes in Massachusetts, while lowering the sales tax and dedicating sales tax proceeds to a lockbox public works fund.

Massachusetts officials introduced legislation to overhaul OPEB benefits in what Treasurer Steven Grossman called "a game-changer" for Bay State finances.

Local Massachusetts governments still face significant fiscal strain, but most have managed their challenges well, Moody's said in a special report.

State Treasurer Steven Grossman announced that the recently completed eBay auction his office's Unclaimed Property Division conducted has generated a record-setting $544,552 in revenue for the commonwealth's general fund.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray joined Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan to award $504,117 in grants to seven nonprofit organizations to preserve 212 acres of open space.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is considering an anticrash system for its streetcars, but would have to pay around $700 million and take nine years to implement it.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman named Jessie Saintcyr as deputy treasurer, making his senior human resources official, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, one of his top five advisors.

Massachusetts will to price $381 million of general obligation bonds on Wednesday, including $231 million of SIFMA index refunding bonds and $150 million of new-money bonds.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman wrote U.S. Senators Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to oppose legislation that would limit states' control of online gambling within their borders.

Massachusetts ended its fiscal year with a $116 million surplus and boosted its rainy-day fund by 20%, to $1.7 billion. Its balance is the third-highest.

Fitch Ratings affirmed its AA-minus rating for Worcester, Mass. as the city prepares to competitively sell $72.1 million general obligation municipal purpose loan bonds.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority administrator Beverly Scott will become the new general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority expects to sell $725 million of senior dedicated sales tax refunding bonds, with Jefferies as lead manager.