Property taxes

The session, which begins Jan. 14 with a more-conservative Republican majority, could bring additional anti-ESG and DEI legislation.

Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is the target of lawsuits from a private industry group over a transportation utility fee that was struck down earlier this year.

KBRA has placed Chicago's general obligation bond rating on watch for downgrade as the City Council prepares to vote tomorrow on a proposed property tax increase.

Omaha voters approved six general obligation bond measures totaling $333.4 million last week, none of which required a tax increase.

Homeowners across the nation could realize savings from as little as $20 per year to having their bill wiped out entirely.

Many states are capping or trying to eliminate property taxes that support bond issuance.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday proposed a $17.3 billion fiscal year 2025 budget that calls for a $300 million property tax increase, but does not touch pension funding levels.

As federal funding dries up, cites are searching for new funding sources.

Houston and other Texas cities face financial pressure caused by weather disasters, public safety salaries and pensions, or capped property tax collections.

The districts, which finance public infrastructure for housing developments, are dealing with limited revenue growth and state actions to cut property taxes.

Stagnant per-pupil state funding amid rising costs led to budget deficits, lower reserves, and ballot proposals to raise property tax rates for some districts.

Initiatives planned for the Nov. 5 ballot raised concerns in the state's municipal bond market over higher borrowing costs and litigation.

Property taxpayers want a state court to order the city to reduce its 2024 tax levy by $187 million earmarked for a now-downsized mass transit plan.

State lawmakers will be back in session Aug. 26 in an effort to head off ballot initiatives that worry the state's public finance industry.

Municipal bond market participants say a proposed constitutional amendment targeting property tax revenue would increase borrowing costs and lead to litigation.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen called a special legislative session for July 25 so lawmakers can consider his plan for property tax reform after his April attempt fell short.

The rating agency said legislation signed into law this month to limit annual property tax revenue growth to 5.5% could reduce commercial property collections.

A state ban on bond underwriters that "boycott" or "discriminate" against the fossil fuel or firearms industries has resulted in fewer banks providing municipal financial products and services.

The city of Aurora, Illinois, is issuing an upfront loan to developer Penn Entertainment using bonds backed by tax increment financing district revenue.

Office sectors in some Southwest cities, including Houston, are stressed due to elevated vacancy rates that may lower assessed values and property tax revenue.