Public pensions

Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas are taking action to address fiscal challenges brought on by litigation, state actions and a ballot measure.

The governor is calling for a freeze on planned cuts to individual and corporate tax rates.

Texas, Oklahoma, and other Southwest states would jump on the bitcoin bandwagon amid a nationwide surge in bills to invest public money in cryptocurrencies.

A voter-approved charter amendment requiring a bigger police force spurred Moody's Ratings to revise its outlook on the city's A1 bond rating to negative.

The state House and Senate announced their spending plans for the upcoming biennium, including funding to continue and increase 2023's state-funded tax cut.

The largest issuance the Local Government Commission approved was $387 million of bonds for Mecklenburg County.

Moody's Ratings said the 2025 budget that passed Chicago's City Council this month won't materially alter the credit profile of the city, which it rates Baa3.

The budgeting constraints transformed the state's finances and bond ratings. But critics say the policy's downsides include the stifling of needed investments. 

Brad Briner said the state may need to issue short-term debt in the near future to pay for Hurricane Helene expenses.

The outlook change to negative comes in the wake of voter approval on Nov. 5 of a ballot measure requiring certain public safety spending by the city.