Trends in the Regions

Along with tax cuts and school funding increases, lawmakers created passenger rail funding streams and paved the way for a historic hotel's bond-financed purchase.

Pittsburgh recently celebrated removing 11,000 lead water service pipes. It has around 6,000 to go, and estimates that it will finish around 2026. 

More funding went to oil and gas subsidies than into green energy projects in recent years, according to panelists at Milken Institute's Global Conference.

A $327 million competitive bond deal, including $35 million of taxables, will fund renovations to the stadium and a new football operations building.

Lawmakers in Illinois have proposed legislation to consolidate the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority.

Delivery delays for Boeing planes are impacting airports, with Southwest Airlines recently announcing it is pulling out or reducing flights at some facilities.

Josh Shapiro proposed $500 million of bonds for site development in his executive budget. But site development has its risks, and the returns may take time.

The $380 million request for the zoo to voters in three Portland-area counties is the largest bond measure on the May 21 statewide primary ballot.

Strong and growing sales tax revenues support the bonds. Repayment isn't tied to ridership, which has declined.

The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for a new domed lakefront stadium they say would cost about $4.7 billion total and involve $900 million in new bond financing.

School districts, which have been a main driver of debt issuance in Texas, account for 58% of the $17.4 billion of bond requests in Saturday's election.

The mayor's executive budget will now be vetted by the City Council; its leaders say Adams' new spending plan shortchanges library and mental health programs.

S&P Global Ratings joined Moody's in assigning a negative outlook to its triple-A rating, but a criteria change pushed Fitch's rating of the city up to AAA.

"Each party in this deal benefits in some way," said Seema Mohanty, founder of Mohanty Gargiulo.

The bond plan, a key priority for Mayor Brandon Johnson, will be paid for with revenue gained by letting tax increment financing districts expire.

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.

"Numbers are hard to come by in a comprehensive way, but we do learn the state's budget is targeted at $237 billion," said John Hallacy. "This budget is clearly not a 'caretaker' budget, but one that adds significant spending. The question is how that spending will affect the out-years."

The replacement Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal won't have more gates, but will be less cramped and resolve its noncompliance with FAA safety regulations.

John Fleming is pushing back against a proposal in the state Legislature to change the way the state Bond Commission oversees the issuance of debt by cities, counties and local governments and entities.

States are increasingly turning to public-private partnerships with developers to create new workforce housing so residents can afford to live where they work.