Munis

Despite a downgrade by Moody's Ratings in April, Washington, D.C., went to market early and emerged with an oversubscribed revenue and refunding bond issuance of nearly $1.5 billion.

The ratings agency changed its outlook on its BBB-minus rating to negative from stable Wednesday.

The ratings agency is growing more pessimistic about the United States economy.

Long Beach has few, if any, peer credits for the $88 million of marina revenue refunding bonds it plans to price next week.

Ohio's governor is critical of a legislative plan to support a Cleveland Browns stadium in suburban Brook Park with $600 million of state bonds.

The city, which faces a budget shortfall, would receive the lesser of 30% or $80 million of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus toll revenue.

It's the latest in a series of legislative efforts to restore tax-exempt advance refunding of bonds.

Falling financial dominoes started by a continuing resolution passed by Congress is leading to budget delays and the threat of a lawsuit by City Council as Washington prepares for a nearly $1.5 billion bond issuance.

April's volume was revised upward to $45.825 billion in 727 issues, up 2% from $44.945 billion in 707 issues in the same period in 2024, according to revised LSEG data.

The top 10 saw some changes, with Gilmore & Bell and Squire Patton Boggs entering the top 10, while Troutman Pepper Locke and Ballard Spahr were bumped.

Dan Aschenbach and Namsoo Lee created Municipal Financial Solutions Associates to help utilities manage the changing economic and regulatory landscape.

The "Golden Age of Public Finance," as it was called by industry pundits, is likely to face significant changes under the Trump administration.

Compensation played a role in the departures, sources said.

April's volume was $41.178 billion in 660 issues, down 8.4% from $44.945 billion in 707 issues in the same period in 2024, according to LSEG data. This is still above the 10-year average of $35.436 billion.

Attracting more private investment to the affordable housing sector is becoming more urgent with the reintroduction of a bill in the Senate that could spur the use of private activity bonds.

Fiscal 2026 general fund revenue for the city, which is considering a November bond election, is expected to be flat amid economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs.

The law Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed earlier this month will make it harder for local governments and school districts to issue bonds.

MSRB's goal is to address the public comments it received and to file a new rate card with the SEC before the end of the year, a spokesperson said.

The $500 million deal was delayed after the tariff announcement rocked the markets. It has priced, but offering documents include new trade war disclosures.

The mayor of Washington and the managing partner of the Washington Commanders laid out a plan for bringing a $3.7 billion stadium to the city via a mixed use development financed by a combination of private and public money.