North Carolina

Natural gas prepayment deals helped drive the utilities sector to top the Southeast in an overall down year for municipal bond sales across the region.

Robert Poole, a leading expert in the U.S. public-private partnership transportation sector, joins infrastructure reporter Caitlin Devitt to talk about upcoming deals including toll lanes and bridges in the Southeast and high speed rail in the West as well as states that are advancing P3s and action on the federal front. (37 minutes)

Meanwhile in New York, the state doubles down on climate investments and restricts investments in some big oil and gas companies as the city blasts several big banks as they pull out from the Climate Action 100+ initiative.

"The debt afforablity study was just released. In this study we outlined how state debt is going to be falling by 60% over an eight year period," state Treasurer Dale Folwell said Tuesday.

"It is a torpedo into one of the safest, most secure pension systems in the United States, if not the world," said North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell.

The top five bond financings have an average dollar volume of more than $1 billion.

Fitch Ratings has raised the Turnpike Authority's ratings to BBB-plus from BBB and assigned BBB-plus ratings to the Series 2024 A&B senior lien turnpike revenue bonds and Series 2024 subordinated TIFIA loan.

The top five bond financings have an average dollar volume of more than $1.2 billion.

After teaching local government finance at the University of North Carolina School of Government, Crews rejoined McGuireWoods's public finance team in Raleigh,

The largest authorization approved at the October meeting was the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency's $750 million of revenue bonds.

"It's important to take this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Japanese leaders and employers," said Gov. Roy Cooper.

The Local Government Commission approved issues for Charlotte's airport and arena and other projects around the state while returning fiscal control to Robersonville.

Tom Dundon, the owner of the Hurricanes, said the work would "transform PNC Arena into a year-round destination for residents."

However another town is still struggling with issues that further threaten its already-strained viability while 14 local governments were designated as distressed under the viable utility reserve legislation.

Treasurer Dale Folwell said the law protects retirees' money from being used for what he called Wall Street's "wacktivist" agenda.

The "act to increase compliance by counties and municipalities that fail to timely submit an annual audit report," was called too harsh by Gov. Roy Cooper.

Additionally, state Treasurer Dale Folwell endorsed an anti-ESG bill in the state legislature.

The Local Government Commission voted to allow the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority to sell $175 million of transportation revenue bonds.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell said he backs the intent and purpose of the bill, which is supposed to make the bond issuance process more transparent.

Benjamin was mayor of Columbia from 2010 to 2021, leading the city through a time of tremendous growth.