Politics

The Pennsylvania government is still kicking the can down the road on public transit funding. This time, it's using capital funds to plug operating gaps. 

A bill to provide state credit support for housing finance and another to create an infrastructure bank were placed in the legislature's suspense file.

Advocates have floated similar measures repeatedly over the course of several administrations with no luck.

The administration wants the project "to be a model of how to build quickly and cost effectively," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

Doña Ana County taxable industrial revenue bonds, which will be sold to participants in the project, will enable the project to access a variety of tax breaks.

The state government is holding back school aid while it waits for lawmakers to pass a budget. That's hurting some schools more than others. 

"A lawsuit like this is probably critical for any future settlements or agreements, because it will (maybe) determine up front if the incoming [board] members, and thus whatever agreements they sign, are valid or not," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics.

For the 24th year, The Bond Buyer editorial board will identify and recognize the year's most outstanding municipal finance transactions. The final deadline for nominations is Friday, October 17.

BDA plans to hold the fly-ins twice a year, CEO Mike Nicholas said.

All of fiscal 2025 was funded under continuing appropriations instead of the traditional appropriations process.