Public finance

Given that subway safety concerns could impair a rebound from COVID-19, recent spikes in crime and levels of policing triggered spirited discussion at a board meeting.

The state's momentum with rating agencies continued when Fitch elevated its special tax obligation bonds to AA-minus.

A reported preliminary 25.8% drop in May issuance shows how strong fund inflows, improving credit and the reopening of governments are keeping the muni market issuer friendly.

The Detroit Financial Review Commission votes in June on a fourth one-year waiver that allows the city to manage its finances independently.

The Board will address several of Puerto Rico's authorities' fiscal plans and will have an update about PREPA's transition of its systems to the private operator, LUMA Energy.

The $304.5 billion highway section might pave the way for further bipartisan agreement on a wide-ranging infrastructure package.

Triple-A municipal benchmark yield curves were bumped one to two basis points, lagging a four basis point rally in U.S. Treasuries after weaker consumer sentiment and dovish comments from Fed officials moved equities lower.

While Jacques Jiha cited improved outlooks to stable from Moody's and S&P, skeptics warned of inadequate use of federal aid and lingering outyear budget gaps.

Eli Dvorkin of the Center for an Urban Future suggests how New York City can save millions by improving its capital construction process. He also examines the city's tech growth. Paul Burton hosts. (23 minutes)

Municipals saw little activity on Monday as the market prepped for the bulk of the week's $7B primary calendar arriving Tuesday and Wednesday.

Low interest rates, looming CalPERS amortization changes and pandemic-related budget hits were cited as factors in the record year for California POB deals.

The Senate highway bill proposes a national pilot program for a motor vehicle per-mile user fee.

Oklahoma can cut taxes and boost school funding while expanding Medicaid coverage thanks to healthy revenues.

Strong technicals have been the theme, and with federal aid and better-than-expected tax receipts coming in, issuers are not tapping the market as much as investors would hope.

Illinois won't wait for the Treasury Department to consider its request to add COVID-19-related debt repayment as an eligible use of ARP funds.

In what one critic called a "riverboat gamble," Mayor Jorge Elorza in Rhode Island's capital city seeks $704 million to pump into a severely unfunded system.

Alex Elegudin revealed confidential information to a paratransit vendor during a competitive bidding process, according to Carolyn Pokorny's office.

Analysts are taking the view that muni investors expect higher taxes and are brushing off inflation concerns. U.S. Treasuries are another story.

While its budget does not include debt service, the executive director said she anticipated amending it in the coming fiscal year once the plan of adjustment is finalized.

Reinstatement of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds appears to have the broadest support because of its nearly universal impact on state and local issuers as well as nonprofits.