Wisconsin

Wisconsin collected $127 million more of general purpose revenue in the last fiscal year than projected last May, according to new figures from the state's Department of Revenue.

St. Louis-based Ascension Health Alliance is advancing plans to acquire Oklahoma-based Marian Health System, the parent of three regional not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the mid and central states.

Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook on Gundersen Lutheran’s A1 rating to stable from negative in recognition of the hospital system’s strengths and favorable operating performance.

With its pricing this week of $15 million of extendible rolling tender variable-rate bonds, the Milwaukee comptroller will complete a plan introducing new floating-rate products that don't require liquidity support to the city's debt portfolio.

Incumbent Gov. Scott Walker and Republican groups spent $58.7 million on the historic recall election in June while his Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Democratic groups spent $22 million.

The Milwaukee County Board has approved an increase in the $3 passenger facility charge at Mitchell International Airport to $4.50.

Wisconsin posted a help wanted notice this week: Director, Capital Finance Office as the longtime standard bearer of the state's debt management -- Frank Hoadley -- prepares to retire.

Law firms interested in working on future state of Wisconsin bond sales have until August 6 to submit their qualifications for review.

Wisconsin's retirement system is solid at full funded status, has the ability to weather fiscal turmoil through annuity changes, and there's no need to tinker with it, concludes a new state report.

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook on Meriter Hospital's A1 rating to negative from stable ahead of a private placement of debt.

CHICAGO – A review of secondary market trade data and credit default swap spreads on Wisconsin paper detected some market anxiety leading up to Tuesday's recall election of Gov. Scott Walker, but it did not reveal any widespread angst or change in the value of a state general obligation bond, according to figures compiled by Interactive Data Corp.

CHICAGO — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survived a historic recall election Tuesday that was sparked last year by his move to curtail unions’ collective bargaining rights.

While bond insurer Ambac Assurance Corp. has been paying policyholders claims for the last several years, its related segregated account branch has not been doing so.

Three of the five Wisconsin school districts involved in a risky $200 million investment instrument have won rating upgrades following their recent settlement of litigation that releases the districts of their moral obligation to repay notes tied to the investment scheme.

CHICAGO — Wisconsin will take competitive bids Tuesday on $212 million of new-money general obligation bonds as it tees up two revenue bond refundings to take advantage of the rise in bond prices.

CHICAGO – Janesville, Wis.-based Mercy Alliance Inc. will issue $172 million of new-money and refunding bonds Wednesday in a deal that will shed floating-rate risk in the hospital's debt portfolio.

Gov. Scott Walker’s administration last week released revenue projections showing Wisconsin is on track to close out the current fiscal biennium with a $154 million balance.

Milwaukee’s recent downgrade by Moody’s Investors Service became a campaign issue last week when Mayor Tom Barrett, who hopes to unseat Gov. Scott Walker in an upcoming recall election, blamed Walker for the action.

CHICAGO — Milwaukee will enter the market Wednesday with a new comptroller at the helm, with a mix of about $225 million of new-money and refunding bonds and cash-flow borrowing.

The sales tax imposed in 1996 in the Milwaukee region to cover the public share of the Milwaukee Brewers’ ballpark may no longer be needed as soon as 2017, according to a new report.