Minnesota

CHICAGO — Minnesota is seeking underwriters for a summer sale of $50 million of revenue bonds in what is likely the final state financing needed to fund a statewide digital-radio communications system for public safety personnel.

CHICAGO — The Minnesota attorney general’s office and lawyers representing state retirees in a lawsuit challenging legislation that curbed future increases in their pension benefits will return to court Tuesday to argue their sides.

CHICAGO — Minneapolis Tuesday will take competitive bids on $105 million of tax-exempt and taxable general obligation refunding bonds in an offering officials are hoping will attract strong interest from investors, given the rarity of its high-grade paper and the deal’s size and noncallable structure.

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday dropped his proposal for an income tax surcharge on top earners after the state announced a new revenue forecast that trimmed nearly $1.2 billion off the $6.2 billion deficit looming in the next two-year budget cycle.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Hamline University's rating to Baa2 from Baa1 due to its highly leveraged balance sheet. The move affects $56 million of debt, including this week's $26 million issued through the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission expects insurance to cover most of the $19 million price tag for a new roof on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a two-year, $64 billion spending plan that relies heavily on income tax increases to overcome a $6.2 billion shortfall.

CHICAGO — The University of Minnesota enters the market Tuesday with $388 million of general obligation bonds to raise funds for various projects and reduce its floating-rate exposure by refunding debt.

CHICAGO — New Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton called on lawmakers Monday to support a proposed $1 billion capital bonding budget he billed as an economic stimulus package needed to create jobs while improving infrastructure.

CHICAGO — Veteran Minnesota-based financial adviser Kristin Hanson will take the reins of debt management for the state’s Office of Management and Budget, commissioner Jim Schowalter announced this week.

CHICAGO — The Minnesota attorney general’s office and lawyers representing state retirees in a lawsuit challenging benefit cuts will lay out their cases by the end of the month in summary judgment motions that seek a quick ruling.

CHICAGO — The new governors of neighboring Minnesota and Wisconsin, in their inaugural addresses this week, offered similar pledges to tighten their states’ belts and focus on job creation, but veered far apart on the issue of tax increases.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Sleepy Eye's $12.8 million of general obligation debt one notch to A1 due to its declining financial position.

The Minnesota Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party's Mark Dayton officially became the governor-elect Wednesday after Republican challenger Tom Emmer conceded the race.

CHICAGO — Minnesota faces a $6.2 billion budget deficit over the next two years that is about $590 million more than previously projected, according to a new revenue forecast state fiscal officials issued Thursday.

CHICAGO — Minnesota’s Counties Transit Improvement Board last week advanced plans for a $110 million bond sale by Hennepin County that would mark the first borrowing repaid by a special quarter-cent sales tax imposed in 2008 on the five-county Twin Cities region to support transit.

Minnesota's debt manager Kathy Kardell recently resigned to take a newly created position on Hennepin County's finance team, a loss for the state's finance team that comes as the executive and legislative branches are set to change party hands following the election last week.

CHICAGO — Midwestern voters next week go to the polls to decide the fate of $2.16 billion worth of borrowing requests, choose new governors, and decide spending and taxing measures.

CHICAGO — Minnesota will competitively sell $291 million of water-related state revolving fund bonds Tuesday, followed closely by a $164 million clean water issue from neighboring Wisconsin, as both seek to tap the Build America Bond program ahead of its expiration this year.

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week signed legislation ­providing $80.3 million in aid to ­designated federal disaster areas rocked by floods in late September and storms and tornadoes in June.