Wisconsin

One day after signing into law a new, two-year $72.7 billion state budget, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Monday formally launched his bid for the Republican nod in the 2016 presidential contest.

The Wisconsin Legislature was expected to take up a two-year, $70 billion budget Tuesday after majority Republicans resolved key sticking points within their caucuses.

Issuers from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan compared notes on market challenges at the Bond Buyer's Midwest conference; Illinois credits face the toughest sledding.

Wisconsin plans three bond sales this month beginning Thursday with a $90 million new-money general obligation issue followed by a $128 million clean water revenue refunding issue next week.

A financing package that relies on $250 million of public support to build a new $500 million arena for the National Basketball Association's Milwaukee Bucks is headed to state lawmakers.

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Kenosha Unified School District #1 in Wisconsin to Aa3 from A1 due to the district's strengthened fiscal position.

All three rating agencies affirmed Milwaukee ahead of its sale of last week of $187 million of general obligation bonds and notes and $125 million of revenue anticipation notes.

Wisconsin’s latest revenue projections are giving state lawmakers little breathing room as hoped to avoid cuts in the next two-year budget.

Wisconsin’s capital finance director, Kevin D. Taylor, resigned after only two years in the job.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Aspirus Inc. Obligated Group by one level to A-plus ahead of its $40 million fixed-rate issue.

The Milwaukee Bucks unveiled plans for a $500 million multi-use downtown arena to house the National Basketball League team and an adjacent $500 million mixed use development with hopes of soon locking in a public financing package.

Wisconsin's tab to repay $220 million in proposed borrowing for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena ranges from $324 million to $488 million, according to a legislative report.

Standard & Poor’s raised Wisconsin-based Bellin Health’s rating by one level to A-plus ahead of its upcoming $45 million refunding issue.

Wisconsin's capital finance office is seeking applicants to fill two spots on its team charged with managing state borrowing programs.

Municipal bond borrowing by Midwestern issuers picked up steam last year, rising by 6.9% to $63.5 billion as issuers loosened the reins a bit on new money borrowing and refundings recorded double-digit gains thanks to favorable interest rates.

Wisconsin will leave $108 million of low-interest commercial paper in place instead of paying off it off as planned in the current fiscal year, in a move that will provide near-term relief to help Gov. Scott Walker close a $283 million shortfall; critics call it a scoop and toss.

After years of contentious debate, construction is expected to soon begin on a starter streetcar system in downtown Milwaukee with the Common Council's approval of a $124 million capital budget for the 2.5 mile project.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's administration rejected a proposal pitched this week by the Menominee Tribe to cover $220 million in state funding for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena in exchange for a new casino.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a $68.2 billion two-year budget proposal that favors borrowing over a higher gas tax to fund transportation projects, includes debt service for a new Milwaukee Bucks arena, and cuts University of Wisconsin aid.

Wisconsin is offering up more than $500 million of general obligation paper in the coming weeks, first in a $280 million new money issue selling Tuesday and then in a $260 million refunding slated for later in February.