Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan, with some tweaks, could secure much-needed funds money more quickly during the coronavirus pandemic, Pioneer Institute said.

As Gov. Charlie Baker reopens the state, a taxpayer group paints a dire revenue picture.

April finished with $23.7 billion of issuance, a 15% decline from the $27.9 billion in April 2019. Volatility from the pandemic has caused erratic swings in benchmark yields, resulting in the lowest muni volume total in the month since 2011.

The pending deal with a Bank of America-led syndicate would enable the commonwealth to draw down needed finds while tax revenues are deferred.

Career veterans call fallout from COVID-19 concerns on the municipal market worse than that of 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis combined.

The commonwealth plans a $268 million GO sale two days after Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency.

The revenue package for the $18 billion bond bill includes a proposed rise in gas and corporate taxes that Gov. Charlie Baker opposes.

The region's bond issuers sold $113.3 billion of debt in 2019, a 16.8% increase from 2018 fueled largely by a spike in taxable deals.

Issuance is set to seesaw, as new-issue volume was the heaviest of the year last week, at almost 40% larger than 2019 weekly average. And this is expected to be one of the lowest-volume weeks of the year to date.

Governance structure and new emphasis points are in play as Massachusetts lawmakers weigh extending the MBTA oversight panel.