Coronavirus

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)

There is no deadline for local governments or states to spend the money, with much it expected to be put to use quickly.

Two top state lawmakers, who along with Cuomo comprise the “three people in the room” that hash out the spending plan, pulled their support of the New York governor.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas and CPS Energy, the public utility of the city of San Antonio, were downgraded after the cold weather power crisis.

The legislation penalizes school districts who don't resume in-person instruction for some younger students and those most disadvantaged by online learning.

Limited-size audiences are returning to live events in New York. Shutdowns from the coronavirus have hit the sports, arts and entertainment industries hard.

Jacqueline Dunn had held the interim position since last September.

With federal stimulus payments flowing through the economy, Oklahoma's revenues were encouraging in February.

Lt. Gov. Dan McKee succeeds her on a day state voters approved seven bond measures totaling $400 million.

NACo and the NLC were among 400 groups that sent a letter Monday to senators stating “enthusiastic endorsement” for the $350 billion “in flexible aid."

By the end of March, more than 1,700 projects will have the go-ahead to resume, according to the mayor.

Increased federal funding, Gov. Janet Mills’ targeting of coronavirus relief funds and the state’s relative success in fighting the pandemic have helped.

Greg Sullivan of Boston's Pioneer Institute explores the migration from Massachusetts and Connecticut to lower-tax states, and the ripple effects of a lawsuit regarding cross-state remote employees that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Paul Burton hosts. (13 minutes).

Minnesota was staring at a $1.3 billion gap in its next budget cycle just a few months ago, but the new revenue and economic forecast projects a $1.6 billion surplus.

Municipal issuers in the Southwest sold $93.5 billion of debt in 2020, a year in which the coronavirus upended the way bond business is done.

Taxable deals and refinancings fueled the 2020 volume spike as issuers adjusted to the coronavirus. The pandemic still looms over 2021.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said there’s an agreement among “mayors, governors, and economists from across the political spectrum” that a sizable federal effort is needed.

The governor wants the first full actuarial contribution in 25 years, spurring discussion about what else one of the nation's lowest-rated states should do.

The Federal Reserve is nowhere near to pulling back on its support for the pandemic-damaged U.S. economy, Chairman Jerome Powell signaled at his testimony before Congress on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn't delay the deal but it did influence the structuring of the new money and refunding deal.