General obligation bonds

A review Moody's launched in September ended with rating downgrades and negative outlooks for the city's outstanding general obligation and revenue bonds.

After selling $260 million of voter-approved bonds for the project, county officials are eyeing a sales tax ballot measure in 2026 to cover the higher cost.

The $6.3 billion all-funds budget was amended in the wake of the Nov. 4 defeat of a property tax rate increase that would have raised $109.5 million in revenue.

Public transit emerged as an $11 billion winner in the 2025 elections as voters in five states approved measures to pour money into the sector.

The school system, which has an AA underlying bond rating from S&P, was targeted by the Texas Education Agency for a takeover based on academic performance.

Voters will decide the fate of 447 bond propositions totaling a record $83.7 billion with development-related districts accounting for most of the debt.

The city is gearing up to sell $252 million of general obligation bonds this year and $1.5 billion of revenue bonds in 2026 for a convention center project.

The city plans a competitive general obligation bond sale, as well as a sales tax revenue bond issue to help finance a professional basketball arena next year.

The county awarded $215 million of general obligation limited tax bonds for a jail project with uncertain future funding to lowest bidder BofA Securities.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission bonds are to be priced competivitely Oct. 21.

A debt restructuring by Ninnekah Public Schools aimed to reduce the impact of a court-approved settlement that will still result in a huge property tax hike.

La Marque's two-notch downgrade from Moody's follows a rating cut last month by S&P; both agencies put the city on review for potential further downgrades.

The rating agency cited narrowing reserves and the expectation that the city will experience declining revenues next year.

The city of La Marque is taking steps to stabilize its shaky finances after a short-lived debt service payment default and a bond rating downgrade.

Two triple-A bond deals from the Lone Star State to finance water-related projects are scheduled to price this week in the municipal market.

Backers of a voter-approved public safety funding proposition that led to a negative rating outlook by Moody's said the budget fails to comply with the measure.

Minnesota plans to go to market Sept. 23 with a $1.27 billion general obligation bond sale.

The rating agency's review was triggered by the city's move to effectively end plans for a seawater desalination project that has $235 million of bonds outstanding.

The commission also approved an audit for the financially troubled Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District.

A mix of broader market dynamics and Chicago-specific pressures is driving the widening spreads, investors said.