Midwest

Chicago last week said its hotel occupancy tax is up by 4.9% so far this year after an especially strong September.

A local government fiscal and budget watchdog group endorsed DuPage County, Ill.'s proposed $432 million 2013 budget, which leaves a healthy fund balance intact while also holding the line on its property tax levy and reducing headcount.

A Wisconsin judge has refused the state's request to stay during the appeals process his ruling that overturned portions of a controversial law curtailing bargaining rights for most public unions.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will refund $142 million of bonds this week in a deal that marks the final under the fiscal stewardship of treasurer Karl Tyminski.

The top- Metropolitan Council enters the market this week to refund some debt and raise $100 million in interim financing for its $957 million light-rail line that will link the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

After an eight-year lull in state revolving fund borrowing, Illinois is poised to return to the market next year to fund low-cost loans to municipalities under a $1 billion Clean Water Initiative launched by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle Thursday unveiled a $2.9 billion spending plan that relies on the new federal health care law as well as a handful of new taxes to cure a $267 million shortfall.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority unveiled a proposed $1.5 billion budget for 2013 that banks on $1 billion in borrowing to finance projects planned under the system's $12 billion capital program.

Michigan's Trinity and Pennsylvania's CHE would create one of the nation's largest Catholic health care sytems spanning 21 states if their newly announced plan to merge goes ahead.

Wisconsin will take competitive bids Wednesday on $302 million of general obligation bonds with a $250 million taxable appropriation-backed sale waiting in the wings.