Midwest

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded St. Croix County to Aa2 from Aa3, affecting $10.9 million of general obligation debt. The review came ahead of the county's planned issue this week of $3.36 million of taxable promissory notes.

Fitch Ratings this week revised its outlook to negative and affirmed its BBB-plus rating on general obligation debt issued by the Cleveland Municipal School District. The action affects $150.3 million of GOs issued in 2002 and 2004.

Saying Minnesota has to live within its means, Gov. Tim Pawlenty Monday trimmed the $1 billion capital budget sent to him by lawmakers down to $680 million.

A Korean battery maker said it would build a $303 million plant to make electric car batteries in the town of Holland.

Officials at the Livonia Public Schools in Wayne County are considering privatizing the district's custodial staff, bus drivers, and food service workers in an effort to offset an expected deficit of nearly $15 million in this year's $140 million budget.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week signed legislation allowing the state to issue $250 million of general obligation certificates in the current fiscal year to leverage additional federal matching dollars for Medicaid.

CHICAGO — The Ohio Building Authority today will price approximately $80 million of revenue bonds in a deal that includes traditional tax-exempt debt and taxable Build America Bonds.

CHICAGO — Wisconsin will competitively sell $322.6 million of new-money tax-exempt general obligation bonds and taxable GO Build America Bonds tomorrow to finance traditional “bricks and mortar” projects around the state, and will return next week with a roughly $150 million negotiated GO refunding.

CHICAGO — Missouri Gov. Jay ­Nixon last week announced $126 million of cuts to help fill a new hole in the state’s fiscal 2010 budget. He also proposed a partial government overhaul that would consolidate some departments, sell off state assets, and privatize services to save money in future years.

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was expected to first trim and then sign by late Monday the $1 billion capital spending plan lawmakers approved last week.