Trends in the Regions

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.

While Kansas' sales tax and revenue (STAR) bond program recorded its first default late last year, Bonner Springs is considering using it for a development that includes a Mattel toy-themed amusement park.

New York City Municipal Water Authority returns to the municipal primary after a $1.4 billion deal earlier this year.

Municipal Market Analytics reports the most technical defaults in 2023 since it started tracking them, including 24 in the not-for-profit hospital sector.

Despite an S&P rating upgrade ahead of this week's GO bond deal, Louisiana paid a wider spread to a 10-year benchmark than it did a year ago. Longer maturities saw tighter spreads on from a year ago.

With cyberattacks on the rise, issuers have had to keep fortifying their defenses against criminals targeting the public sector. 

The state's transportation commission took action to end a comprehensive development agreement for a partially bond-financed toll lane project on State Highway 288.

New York State officials are unlikely to meet today's extended deadline for finalizing a fiscal 2025 budget and will probably push it back again.

The aim of the program was to create affordable moderate-income housing more quickly by acquiring existing apartment communities and converting the units to below-market-rate as existing tenants moved out.

"HB 727, if signed into law, should lower borrowing costs for Kentucky school districts and will serve as a critical tool in dealing with cost overruns and other inflationary pressures," said Compass Municipal Advisors.

"What we saw in 2023 was a large surge of issuers coming back into the single-family bond market," said Kurt van Kuller of Sit Investment Associates.

Austin Transit Partnership's ability under Texas law to seek expedited court validation for bonds to finance light rail is the subject of an April 25 hearing.

"Now that the first phase of Miami Worldcenter is complete and the second phase is underway, our team is issuing bonds backed by the TIF package, which will help defray the cost of the improvements made in the district," the development team said.