Kevin Bain, formerly Detroit’s director of strategy, has joined Public Sector Consultants. Kevin Bain, formerly director of strategy for the city of Detroit, has joined Public Sector Consultants as a senior strategist for climate and project finance. The nonpartisan public policy consulting firm’s reputation and history of innovation in the green bank space drew him
Bonds
“A lot of the strategists and pundits who petitioned Senators and Congressmen on our behalf for the municipal market have their hair on fire, worried that the exemption is going to go away,” said Eric Kazatsky, head of Municipal Strategy for Bloomberg Intelligence. ”It’s not as easy as just saying with the stroke of the pen
The St. Petersburg, Florida, City Council approved bonds to help pay for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.Bloomberg News The Tampa Bay Rays moved a step closer to a new stadium, as the St. Petersburg, Florida, City Council voted 4 to 3 Thursday to approve $333.5 million in bonds for that project and
University of Idaho President Scott Green has been a driving force behind plans to acquire the online University of Phoenix.University of Idaho The University of Idaho’s plans to acquire the online University of Phoenix for $685 million hit another speed bump: the state Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s support for the plan. The university
<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20664459/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipal bond yields fell Friday following U.S. Treasuries’ gains after improved jobs data affirmed the Federal Reserve’s expected December rate cut path, while equities were mixed ahead of the close. “Financial markets are now pricing in a cut at this month’s [Federal Open Market Committee] meeting and two more
Michigan state and local elected leaders gathered in Lansing to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state Senate to make the local government revenue sharing trust fund a priority. Bloomberg News Legislation to create a revenue sharing trust fund for local governments in Michigan has stalled in the state Senate, and on Tuesday, a group
Longtime Washtenaw County, Michigan treasurer Catherine McClary, who died Dec. 2, was well-known in Midwest public finance circles for her activism and ability to pilot innovative policies later adopted by other counties.Washtenaw County, Mich. Longtime Washtenaw County, Michigan treasurer Catherine McClary was remembered this week as a trailblazer, role model and prominent voice for social
Brightline won The Bond Buyer’s 23rd annual Deal of the Year award for its $3.2 billion recapitalization that represents a transformative moment in U.S. infrastructure financing. As the largest private-activity bond issuance and first investment-grade debt for American high-speed rail, this transaction, which also won Deal of the Year in the Innovative Financing category, restructured
<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20585986/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were firmer to kick off December, as U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities were mixed late in the session. Muni yields were bumped one to four basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields rose up to five basis points on the short end, as of 3
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott touts a state-funded education savings account program at a parent empowerment day event at the state capitol in March 2023. After the program failed to pass that year, he vowed another push in 2025 and campaigned for pro-voucher legislative candidates.Texas Governor’s Office Texas is gearing up for its 2025 legislative session
House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said disaster aid may be included in a short-term government funding bill this year.Al Drago/Bloomberg News Lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill next week to wrap up the 118th Congress with must-pass government funding and national defense authorization bills and fresh disaster funds on tap. The lame-duck session ending
“Emergency relief funding is not just about repairing infrastructure, it’s about ensuring that transportation remains a critical support system for communities rebuilding after devastating natural disasters,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO. ”This funding is critical now more than ever, as climate-driven disasters increase in intensity and frequency. Congress must act swiftly to provide
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20548015/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Municipals were lightly traded in a post-Thanksgiving holiday-shortened session, but the asset class held onto a firmer tone Friday following an improved U.S. Treasury market, ahead of what’s building up to be a sizable new-issue slate for the first week of the last month of 2024. Demand for paper
Moody’s Ratings downgraded Manhattan, Kansas, bonds to A1 from Aa3 in the wake of a tardy audit and deteriorating finances. A tardy annual audit and deteriorating finances led Moody’s Ratings to downgrade the issuer and general obligation rating for Manhattan, Kansas, to A1 from Aa3 and warn the rating could be lowered further or even
<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20497288/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals improved, outperforming small losses in U.S. Treasuries Tuesday, while equities closed with the Dow and S&P 500 hitting records. The day’s moves followed the Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes that signaled the Federal Reserve will be cautious with further policy easing. If the economy progresses as expected,
The Chicago skyline in August. Chicago is preparing to go to market with a refinancing deal that will help balance its budget.Bloomberg News A complex refinancing deal pricing next week continues Chicago’s move from scoop-and-toss practices but still front-loads savings to help balance the city’s budget. The city will issue $142.09 million of sales tax
“By modernizing this key venue, we will not only attract more events and visitors but also stimulate local businesses and create a vibrant atmosphere in the area,” said D.C.’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Our agreement stipulates that at least 40% of contracts will be awarded to certified business enterprises, with an ambitious goal of reaching
&lt;img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20514185/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /&gt; Issuance fell in November year-over-year, marking the first month supply has declined in 2024, as election-related uncertainty and fewer available pricing days kept volume low. Despite this, bond volume in 2024 will break issuance records. November’s volume was at $24.743 billion in 607 issues, down 33% from $36.918 billion
Jackson Hospital engaged Allen Wilen, partner at Eisner Advisory Group, as the chief restructuring officer in early September. The defaulted issuer Jackson Hospital & Clinic of Birmingham, Alabama, is set to receive bridge loans from some of the holders of its bonds. Investors participating in talks with the hospital have agreed to loan up to
&amp;amp;amp;lt;img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20515760/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /&amp;amp;amp;gt; Municipals were firmer Wednesday following U.S. Treasury yields lower as economic indicators sent investors the signal the Federal Reserve will likely continue on its rate-cutting path. “While this month’s core PCE inflation, data was certainly a little higher than the Fed would like it to be, it was very