Wisconsin

A Wisconsin county has sold more than $200 million of bonds for broadband provider Bug Tussel to provide high-speed internet to rural customers in the state.

Issuers in the Midwest sold $32.6 billion of debt spread over 1,223 deals in the first half, down from $40.5 billion a year earlier.

The measure comes after months of dire warnings over the city's looming insolvency.

Through his use of the partial veto, Gov. Evers pared down a GOP-authored income tax cut and gave school districts the power to raise a per pupil revenue limit by $325 annually for centuries.

If approved by the local governing bodies, Milwaukee could raise nearly $180 million more annually from the new sales tax and the county $80 million from a hike, according to estimates.

State legislation that increases Milwaukee's revenue prospects falls short of what the city needs to manage rising pension and other costs, Fitch Ratings said.

The Missouri House approved legislation to strip St. Louis of its earnings tax on remote work; Wisconsin lawmakers unveiled a plan to raise revenue sharing.

"Tenders are another tool in the toolbox, that depending on the situation and market dynamics, can be used to generate robust savings," Aaron Heintz said.

Several Midwest hospital mergers that are in the works will contribute to the 2023 numbers while one announced in 2022 just closed.

Wisconsin's Republican legislative majorities for a third consecutive biennium rejected Democrat Tony Evers' capital plan and will craft their own version.

The transportation revenue bond sale comes as legislative work on a new budget package is ramping up with the GOP expected to craft its own operating and capital spending plans.

Milwaukee could see relief from pressures that have dragged down its ratings if Gov. Tony Evers' proposals — to raise shared revenues and allow local governments to seek voter approval for a sales tax hike — clear legislative hurdles.

Minnesota raised its surplus projections by $6 billion Tuesday and Wisconsin last month added $2.7 billion to its surplus.

Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health finalized their merger Friday.

Fitch and S&P downgraded the city as it grapples with rising costs, limited revenue prospects and a looming pension funding spike.

If it passes legal muster, Wisconsin counties will decide whether to participate in what would likely be the first securitization of opioid settlement payments.

Seven states formed the Midwestern Hydrogen Coalition to collaborate on promoting hydrogen-based energy production, use and distribution.

In both Michigan and Wisconsin, school districts are seeking about $2 billion of either bonding capacity or revenue raising authority.

The muni market may get a temporary boost of support this week as investors received $18 billion of maturing and called bond proceeds on Sept. 1.

Moody's dropped the city's rating a notch to A3 and kept a negative outlook on the credit. Persistent structural deficits and pension liabilities were factors.