News and Information from Bond Buyer

Hank Smith, head of Investment Strategy at Haverford Trust, discusses the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the coronavirus pandemic, inflation, and economic growth. He says, “at some point the Fed will have to acknowledge the economy may really take off.” Gary Siegel hosts. (Taped March 2. 26 minutes)

The 'pension' bondholders have reached a preliminary deal with the Puerto Rico Oversight Board.

The Investment Company Institute reported outflows from municipal bond mutual funds but inflows into exchange-traded funds. The February consumer price index came in as expected, while the core was below expectations, and analysts expect bigger rises ahead.

The House voted 220-211 to approve Senate-passed amendments midday Wednesday.

A state appeals court ruled that the Palm Beach County School District violated state law by excluding charter schools from a voter-approved tax levy.

A consildated effort is needed for better transparency of pricing in the municipal market, especially for retail investors.

The office designs and implements a plan that coordinates statewide resilience and disaster recovery efforts.

Thousands of references to the acronym were removed from the Government Finance Officers Association website.

Johnson, in his announcement to run, emphasized New York’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through effective use of federal stimulus dollars.

S&P moved Illinois' outlook to stable from negative amid revenue numbers that beat pandemic-driven low expectations. The rating remains the lowest among states.

The authority's board will be replacing two leaders.

Munis were stronger across the curve as secondary trading was constructive and bellwether credits moved yields lower.

The plan and disclosure statement indicates only some of the terms for the HTA, CCDA, and PRIFA rum tax bonds.

The Illinois attorney general and the head of conservative policy group lay out their positions next week in a case seeking to void $14 billion of state debt.

The next phase of pension risk analysis will be different and more challenging: Assessing the long-term impacts of individual jurisdictions’ choices in the context of their unique workforce demographics, benefits and salary structure, and pension funding status.

The creation of the Municipal Liquidity Facility helped not only eligible entities but also those left out of using the program.

The pandemic has caused some special circumstances for state and local governments in juggling their finances. Jeffrey Previdi, the vice-chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board who spent more than 20 years of his career at S&P Global Ratings, talks about what his regulatory organization has done to assist them. Previdi also talked about how GASB influences how state and local governments spend taxpayer money on such things as schools, firehouses, water treatment plants, and other infrastructure. Brian Tumulty hosts. (25 minutes)

They assumed their jobs over the past year in the face of a pandemic, civil unrest and financial uncertainties, and in an industry often set in its ways.

Despite the recent outflows and volatility of the Treasury market, municipal bonds have and should continue to outperform as stimulus from Washington provides some respite.

The museum is borrowing through the tax-exempt market for the first time to finance is ongoing transformation plans.