Trends in the Regions

States may need to look to Florida's catastrophe fund example as extreme weather increases, FEMA denies more requests and insurance becomes unprofitable in much of the Midwest.

Concerns have been raised about audits related to nearly $2.9 billion of ratepayer-backed bonds sold for Oklahoma utilities in 2022.

The city will return to the market two weeks after closing its Transitional Finance Authority's biggest-ever deal.

The city announced its P3 partner this week even after its federal funding got cut in committee and Rep. Maxine Waters took a strong oppositional position.

Challenges to laws banning investment banks from underwriting municipal bonds and the targeting of other financial firms for divestment purposes may result from a recent Oklahoma ruling.

North Dakota's Bismarck State College returned to the market, pricing $30 million of bonds, with proceeds used to finance the construction of an 80,000-square-foot athletic center.

In Texas, the Austin City Council set a climate bond election for no later than November 2026, while an Arizona water authority is dealing with a funding drought.

One-time spending, rainy-day funds and fare hikes are forming a rickety bridge for crossing the transit funding ravine.

Public pensions are averaging a significantly improved 80.6% funded ratio, but took on riskier investments to obtain higher returns, which would be problematic in a market correction.

The new rule will require FEMA to consider climate change's impact on future flood patterns in determining how and sometimes if to build back after flooding. 

Sterling Heights, Michigan, plans to issue $45 million of bonds to help finance a $1.06 billion redevelopment of Lakeside Mall, which closed at the end of June.

The $238.8 million of voter-approved debt will end a 12-year drought in new money general obligation issuance by the nation's fifth largest city.

The Grants Pass decision was viewed as the most consequential for local governments of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent session.

The airport reports that both passenger and freight traffic has grown well beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Every state in the Midwest has clean water and drinking water financing programs. Those financing mechanisms may face greater strain in the years ahead.

S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook on the city's AA rating to negative from stable, citing increased debt and costs from a settlement with firefighters.

The City Council-approved deal spends big on education and housing and reverses earlier cuts, but analysts are wary of the city's budget practices.

Between two state measures and one regional, California starts with $40 billion of GO bonds on the November ballot, before any other local measures are tallied.

After the west abutment on the Rapidan Dam partially failed last week, it's up to the Blue Earth County board of commissioners to pursue repair or removal.

Laws enacted in Arkansas and Kansas will reduce income tax revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars in fiscal 2025.