Budgets

California's highest court said city officials failed to negotiate with labor unions before bringing its pension overhaul to a vote.

The State Bond Commission approved a $10 million study on reviving tolls against a backdrop of revenue strain and regional dynamics.

The board has identified more than 110 out of 490 local units of government as having an underfunded pension plan or retirement health care plan — or both.

Strong economic conditions drove municipal sales tax collection across New York to its highest first-half increase in eight years.

Stephen Eide of the Manhattan Institute explores the unfunded liability problems in the state's biggest communities. Paul Burton hosts.

The pension funding problems reflect several decades of underpayments, said Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, who chairs a commission formed to tackle the problem.

The school district's borrowing plans got a boost Thursday from S&P Global Ratings, which upgraded it to B-plus from B.

The New York State Financial Control Board went into "sunset mode" for a 32nd straight year.

The fund returned 8.03% in FY18, ahead of its 7% annual target and ahead of its own benchmark, which returned 7.59%.

S&P Global Ratings lowered the Connecticut city to BBB-plus from A-minus, and Fitch Ratings dropped the city to BBB from A-minus.

The school district scaled down its original proposal for a capital bond referendum and operating referendum.

A Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allows the city to move ahead with borrowing plans that were placed on hold during its legal fight.

The debt of New York’s MTA prompted board member David Jones to question whether the authority should have a debt cap.

Rural governments continue to lose economic ground, according to a Moody's Investors Service report.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board named Gary Hall as its next chair and Edward Sisk to become vice chair. It also temporarily cut fees to reduce excess reserves by $2.6 million.

Henry County Superior Court Judge Arch McGarity ruled that bills signed by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal in May did not violate the state constitution.

The tax proposal will appear on the county's November ballot.

Luke Bronin, in an interview at the Brookings Municipal Finance Conference, said Connecticut's capital city is "in a stronger position than we’ve been in a long time."

Mayor Paul George wants to bring the city into the Act 47 workout program for struggling municipalities.

“Nassau County is in a fiscal crisis bordering on a fiscal emergency,” said the new Comptroller Jack Schnirman.