Politics

After a tax increase, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects five straight years of balanced budgets for the first time in more than 20 years.

Utilities paid sky-high prices for natural gas and power during Winter Storm Uri, leading to the issuance last year of nearly $2.9 billion of bonds to cover those costs.

The decision signals the end of a legal saga that began last year when local residents opposed validation of $15 billion of municipal bonds.

The bond division undertook two transactions last week to retire outstanding taxable public education capital outlay and state revolving fund bonds. The transactions used $200 million in program funds, along with additional money, to pay down $400 million in state debt.

The measure comes after months of dire warnings over the city's looming insolvency.

The competition is open to nonprofit financing institutions and the funding will target clean technology projects in underserved areas of the country.

The rule amendments would create an exemption for previously qualified municipal advisors to forego requalification after a lapse in working for a municipal advisor.

After months of feuding on how to deliver a massive property tax cut, lawmakers finally passed legislation for an $18 billion package.

Transit capital investment grants would be funded at the lowest level in decades under the House GOP 2024 draft bill.

The bond measure was approved by the Senate in late May but is on pause while negotiations are under way between the Senate, Assembly and the governor's team.

The ruling striking down affirmative action may bring a fresh headwind to the higher education space, which already faces soft enrollment trends.

Through his use of the partial veto, Gov. Evers pared down a GOP-authored income tax cut and gave school districts the power to raise a per pupil revenue limit by $325 annually for centuries.

Facing revenue shortfalls, funding for Gov. Gavin Newsom's zero-emission efforts had been put on a waiting list.

Legislative leaders said they agreed to an $18 billion package that includes a reduction in school property taxes and a higher homestead exemption.

Several guideposts have also already been offered as Mayor Brandon Johnson must balance his campaign pledges on funding new investments and structurally balancing the budget while holding the line on property taxes as the city deals with crime, rising costs, and end of federal COVID-19 funds.

It's the largest federal transportation grant to date, said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates a bit further to rein in an inflation rate that's too high, monetary expert John Taylor said.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan said more interest-rate increases will likely be needed to spur meaningful disinflation and bring price-growth rates back to the central bank's target.

More than 80% of Michigan's larger cities said they are using ARPA funds for capital improvements like buildings and parks.

Hawaii and West Coast states are taking aim at helping the homeless in this year's budgets.