Coronavirus

Local governments are facing calls for tax relief as the pandemic slows the economy and they implement property tax reform legislation.

Financial markets should not fret if the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending facilities are not extended at the end of this year, when all but one are due to expire, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said.

The latest wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. may weigh on economic growth in the coming months, Federal Reserve Bank of New York John Williams said.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's budget plan strikes the right balance between structural and one-time measures amid the coronavirus, says Jennie Huang Bennett.

The $4.3 billion deal will test the state's low bond ratings — punctuated by another downgrade — against the municipal market's continuing demand for paper.

The comptroller said the Taxi Workers Alliance proposal puts a floor under loan losses by guaranteeing city purchase of any defaulted medallions.

A school official called the coronavirus-related hit "a temporary blip," and said the rating agency moved too quickly.

Three of the world’s top central bankers warned Thursday that the prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t enough to put an end to the economic challenges created by the pandemic.

John Hallacy, founder of John Hallacy Consulting LLC, and Andrew Coen, Bond Buyer Northeast regional reporter, talk about next week’s $4 billion COVID-19 emergency GO and taxable social bond sale by New Jersey. Chip Barnett moderates the discussion on what it means for the state and whether the issue will become muni bond market benchmarks with an extra appeal to international investors. (15 minutes)

Illinois General Assembly leaders canceled the annual veto session amid rising COVID-19 cases, which means lawmakers won't act on the state budget before January.

The rating agency cited higher leverage from borrowing plans to fund expansions and renovations and passenger traffic losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

But in the second half of 2021, the U.S. economy is likely to have a strong recovery from the pandemic.

Skanska and its Elizabeth River Crossings partner, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, will sell the concession to an Abertis Infraestructuras S.A.-led venture.

Rachael Fauss of watchdog Reinvent Albany discusses the importance of transparency amid the pandemic. She also explores state-agency debt and the Fed's Municipal Liquidity Facility. Paul Burton and Andrew Coen host. Recorded Nov. 2 (19 minutes)

MBTA officials insist the moves, which include a capital-to-operating budget shift, are necessary to help seal a coronavirus-related $579 million operating gap.

The IRS will post quarterly updates of its enforcement strategy on the webpage of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division-Compliance Programs and Priorities.

The 10 award winners are finalists for the national Deal of the Year Award, which will be announced at a virtual event on Dec. 16.

S&P Global Ratings downgrades the Garden State's general obligation bonds one notch to BBB-plus from A-minus.

Top-rated muni yields fell by as much as 10 basis points on the AAA curves on Wednesday the largest move better for the market since late April, early May. ICI reported $1.2B of muni bond fund inflows.

With continuing weakness in oil fields, restaurants and stores due to the pandemic, Texas saw sales tax collections fall 3.5% year-over-year.