News and Information from Bond Buyer

The Chicago City Council this week approved a plan to refinance $1.5 billion of the city's debt. The city expects to issue the bonds in the fourth quarter.

Despite studies showing questionable financials, municipalities continue to build

Recent EPA regulations mandating utilities remove lead pipes from distribution systems within 10 years will add to the financial burden.

The event went on as scheduled Tuesday against a backdrop of escalating conflict between the mayor and controller, with each requesting a probe of the other.

"Coming off rich muni-Treasury ratios, the market has swiftly repriced," said 16Rock Asset Management's James Pruskowski. "With now cheaper benchmark yields and wider credit spreads, fresh capital is flowing in, and a strong bottoming opportunity looks to be emerging."

Market participants warned of the law's potential harm to a market that's famously bespoke and self-regulated.

More project finance deals are part of FHN Financial's plans to grow its municipal finance business.

State Treasurer Fiona Ma appointed Christina Sarron as executive director of the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced an initiative to further exclude fossil fuels from pension funds' private portfolios to combat climate change.

Three of the six conservation referendums on Midwest ballots are for bond authorizations; one in Illinois and two in Iowa.

"The identity of the marginal buyer may be shifting, and with that the market's valuation of structure and liquidity," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics.

Tax experts are looking past the election for clues about the fate of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is approaching its sunset and includes the controversial SALT cap.

Public pension benefit improvements could put credit pressure on states that enact them, the rating agency said this week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Alliance Global Partners with publishing daily quotes at above market prices on between 4,300 and 6,500 different municipal bonds over a two-year period.

In FY 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission's Examination Division will be closely monitoring for compliance with MSRB Rule G-42 on the core standards of municipal advisors, in addition to enforcing the T+1 settlement cycle.

As technology options grow, firms are looking for ways to streamline and scale workflows.

A constitutional amendment would allow municipalities to approve districts that could issue bonds to finance infrastructure for housing developments.

The top five bond financings came in above $7 billion.

Demand for munis remains "insatiable," said Daryl Clements, a municipal portfolio manager at AllianceBernstein.

Mega projects in Boston and Philadelphia top the list.