News and Information from Bond Buyer

R. Wade Norris has joined the Washington, D.C., office of Dinsmore & Shoal as a partner to shore up operations in the firm's work in multifamily finance and public private partnerships.

Federal Reserve Gov. Stephen Miran said Thursday that the central bank's forays into examining climate change and racial justice under the prior administration politicized the Fed. He also argued that Fed officials should limit their comments on economic policies such as tariffs.

Metra announced fare hikes in its 2026 budget, part of a broader regional policy requiring the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace to raise fares.

The Southeast's states rely on federal funds more than those in other regions and analysts warn those funds may be ending shortly if the shutdown continues.

The city council took action to keep the property tax rate unchanged, a move that could punch a $53 million hole in the fiscal 2026 budget and drain reserves.

"In theory at least, municipal yields should be able to stabilize here; levels remain attractive for pure income buyers while more sustainable constructive fund inflows are just enough to speak for rising issuance in the absence of meaningful reinvestment," said Matt Fabian, president of Municipal Market Analytics.

The Trump administration's tariff policy is affecting vulnerable pockets of the economy including the construction industry, port operations and states with a reliance on international trade.

"If I wanted to target municipal finance, this would be a really good place for me to start," said Omid Rahmani, public finance cybersecurity lead at Fitch Ratings.

The financing challenges facing both Brightline projects have translated into falling bond prices.

Municipal Market analytics hired Marvis Gutierrez in response to growing demand for the firm's services and plans to keep hiring. 

Investors sued after the fund's sudden June selloff.

Legislators and transit groups are pushing to get transit reform across the finish line this month, lawmakers and stakeholders said Friday.

As the technical picture tends to turn "more favorable" during November and December, Birch Creek strategists believe "the wider new issue concessions brought about via the heavy new issue calendar will likely be rewarded."

A six-notch downgrade gives the financially troubled city a non-investment grade rating of BB-plus with a negative outlook.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will place a regional sales tax measure on the November 2026 ballot to aid struggling transit agencies.

Public finance careers require flexibility and relationship-building, said speakers a University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy event.

The Senate passed the ROAD to Housing Act, which should boost the use of mortgage revenue bonds, as a rider on the Defense Reauthorization Act.

"It is a big problem across the board with all types of deal participants perhaps venturing into unregistered MA activity," said Susan Gaffney.

The state is gearing up to grow its space industry as the federal government starts allowing tax-exempt private activity bond financing for spaceports.

The average weekly issuance is at least $10 billion, said John Flahive, head of investment solutions and co-head of municipal bonds at Insight Investment.