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Ben Watkins, Director of the State of Florida's Bond Division, talks with Chip Barnett about the latest news coming out of the Sunshine State and takes a look at what's happening in Reedy Creek. He discusses Florida's bonding and debt, infrastructure plans and dives into the state's ESG priorities. (30 minutes)

Daily report for August 30, 2022

S&P Global Ratings, who revised the state's GO bond outlook from negative to stable last week.

The Federal Reserve's balance-sheet unwind is set to ramp up this week, which means the central bank will finally begin unloading the Treasury bills it started amassing almost three years ago.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's message on rates last week combined with seasonal factors to give the market a "weird" vibe this week, one trader said.

The authority maintained positive rating momentum by drawing outlook changes from Moody's on both its water and sewer bonds and from Fitch on its sewer debt.

Moody's says the cut is a credit negative for the U.S. Virgin Islands' matching fund bonds.

The American Rescue Plan was passed without waiving the Pay As You Go Act, which could prevent municipalities from receiving payments on bonds already issued.

The "after-action" report concluded that the Great Hall project would have been better served with a more traditional finance and contracting approach.

UBS was the only bank that underwrites municipal bonds on the list of 10 financial companies determined to be boycotting energy businesses under a Texas law aimed at protecting the state's oil and natural gas industry.

Daily report for August 29, 2022

Investors will be greeted Monday with decreased supply with the new-issue calendar estimated at $5.882 billion, down from total sales of $6.134 billion in the week of Aug. 22.

UBS was the only municipal bond underwriter included on the Texas comptroller's list of 10 financial companies determined to be boycotting energy businesses.

The congestion pricing plan that puts tolls on vehicle traffic coming into lower Manhattan still faces many hurdles before it would take effect.

The pension system has sued WAPA demanding immediate payment of more than $2 million in employee contributions.

Cervantes, who joined the board as a member earlier this year, retired from Stifel in October 2020.

The state's Board of Public Works could vote on the 50-year concession this fall as Gov. Larry Hogan aims to button up the project before he exits office in January.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's proposed changes to Rule G-34 on CUSIP applications, removing the requirement for municipal advisors to file new issue applications in one business day, among other changes.

Climate science data that guides where and what to build will be key to effective use of new federal dollars.

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the central bank will remain aggressive in fighting inflation despite promising economic data.