Wisconsin

Moody's Investors Service has raised Carroll University's rating one notch to BBB-plus in recognition of its positive operating performance.

Milwaukee takes bids Tuesday on $62 million of taxable general obligation promissory notes that will put the city on a path toward reducing interest charges on its annual pension payments while eliminating volatility in the size of annual payments.

The cities of Kaukauna and Oshkosh Wis. have announced they can redeem taxable direct-pay bonds because their redemption provisions were triggered by federal subsidy reductions that went into effect in March

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed into law a $68 billion, two-year budget Sunday that authorizes billions in new-money and refunding debt.

The Wisconsin Legislature Friday sent Gov. Scott Walker a two-year, $68 billion budget that cuts income taxes by $650 million and authorizes $1.8 billion in new bonding.

Wisconsin's capital finance office is accepting qualifications through next week from underwriters interested in participating on negotiated sales over the next two years.

Moody's Investors Service has placed Meriter Hospital's A1 rating under review for downgrade as the system struggles with 2012 operating losses due to the Meriter Health Services' health insurance plan.

Ascension Health Alliance will make its first foray into the long-term taxable market this week when it sells $1 billion of refunding bonds in a mix of tax-exempt and taxable paper.

The Rockefeller Foundation selected eight cities to participate in the RE.Invest Initiative, a national effort to support sustainable infrastructure that includes financial advice on P3 options.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker reduced a proposed funding increase for the University of Wisconsin system in his proposed two-year budget by $94 million and recommended a tuition freeze.

A retirement party for Wisconsin's longtime capital finance director Frank Hoadley takes place Wednesday in Madison. Hoadley retired at the end of February after 25 years managing the state's debt issuance.

Moody's Investors Service lowered Ascension Health Alliance's rating one level to Aa2 ahead of the nation's largest not-for-profit healthcare system's upcoming sale of $980 billion of refunding bonds.

Wisconsin expects to collect an additional $575 million in tax revenue over three years under new projections that fueled calls for tax relief and more spending on education.

The University of Wisconsin has come under fire after the recent disclosure that it holds $648 million in reserves lawmakers had not previously known about.

Moody's Investors Service issued a report on Wednesday that examined the local governments and school districts that rely on federal employment, procurement, Medicare reimbursement and education grants that would be most affected by sequestration.

At least 11 small Wisconsin cities -- who approached the federal government's Build America Bond program with a skeptical eye and stuck with flexible redemption provisions – may act on their options due to federal subsidy cuts.

Milwaukee will take competitive bids on $200 million of notes and bonds Tuesday to raise funds to smooth out cash flow and finance capital projects.

Wisconsin will test a new bidding requirement in its $435 million competitive sale next week by setting a minimum coupon on the final five maturities of the 20-year paper.

Wisconsin-based WPPI Energy will sell $180 million of new-money and refunding power supply system bonds to fund projects including environmental upgrades and transmission improvements.

The Wisconsin Department of Administration announced Wednesday the hiring of Kevin D. Taylor to fill the position of capital finance director left vacant by Frank Hoadley's retirement.