Bonds

Hoping to fill some of its 784 vacant positions, the Kansas state government held a virtual job fair last week that attracted 204 participants. “These are good-paying jobs with excellent benefits, and we look forward to finding high-quality candidates that are passionate about contributing their talents for the betterment of Kansas,” Lt. Gov. and Secretary

Prominent bond traders said appetite for restructured Puerto Rico bonds is high and the future will likely bring greater market acceptance. Puerto Rico’s local government, through its Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, brought the five traders to talk about the bonds at its PRNow conference in New York City Friday. “There’s an enormous demand

Economic and interest rate uncertainties greet the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s planned sale of $257.9 million in water and sewer bonds as the authority mixes new money and refinancing in a deal with four distinct pieces. The deal is planned the week of June 4, according to an online “roadshow” presentation for investors. BofA

The Kroll Bond Rating Agency upgraded Connecticut’s long-term general obligation rating to AA-plus from AA on Thursday. The upgraded rating continues Kroll’s stable outlook and reflected Connecticut’s “strong credit profile and significant and continuing progress in improving its financial position over the last six fiscal years,” the agency said. KBRA pointed in particular to the extension

Michigan trimmed its revenue estimates Friday to account for tax changes that carry a multi-billion-dollar price tag. The new projections could require roughly $600 million in reduced spending over what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed earlier this year in the fiscal 2024 budget that would take effect Oct. 1. It relies on available revenue from what

Muni yields climbed even higher to end the week, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended down. Muni yields, after outperforming USTs the prior week, “have adjusted higher in a hurry this week in sympathy with the UST selloff,” said Barclays strategists Mikhail Foux, Clare Pickering and Mayur Patel. Triple-A benchmark yields rose four

Terri Velasquez is ending her term as president of the Government Finance Officers Association with a full year of accomplishments. Representing the city of Aurora, Colorado the 20-year GFOA veteran brought a toolkit full of policy innovation and technology solutions to a grateful organization.  Velasquez came into the presidency with a complete set of goals, some

California’s rating outlook was revised to negative from stable Thursday by Moody’s Investors Service amid the state’s revenue uncertainty. The rating agency also affirmed the Aa2 rating on the state’s general obligation bonds, citing the state’s massive economic base and healthy budget reserves and liquidity. The Aa2 rating on the state’s general obligation bonds is

Issuers, if they’re not already doing so, will soon have to pay much more to supply water to their constituents, turning to ever more inventive ways of procuring and treating water as fresh water supplies run down. That was the focus of one of the panels at the National Federation of Municipal Analysts’ 2023 Annual

Short-term munis sold off Wednesday, as triple-A benchmarks rose in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. Equities rallied. Muni yields rose seven to 12 basis points five years in, while USTs rose two to eight basis points. Performance-wise, Matthew Buscone, co-head of portfolio management at Breckinridge Capital Advisors, said the muni market has been soft this week.

Fresh legislation in Tennessee, major projects in Georgia and a long-awaited bridge replacement in Louisiana are pushing the Southeast region to the forefront of national public-private partnership activity in the toll road sector. “The Southeast is where the action is when it comes to P3s,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, senior managing director of transportation policy at

Municipals were weaker Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields rose and equities ended down. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 67%, the three-year at 68%, the five-year at 67%, the 10-year at 66% and the 30-year at 87%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had the two-year at 70%, the

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s proposed amendments to Rule G-40 on advertising by municipal advisors and Rule G-8 on books and records of municipal advisors. The amendments to Rule G-40 allow municipal advisors to use testimonials in advertisements beginning July 3 and are being welcomed by MA representatives.

Jackson County, Missouri, hits the market with a $260 million special obligation issue that will wrap up financing for a new jail complex long in the works that was chosen as the best option to deal with overcrowding and other public safety and mental health treatment goals. The bonds are expected to price as soon

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said “no” to revenue anticipation notes and a tax increase, but “yes” to climate and mental health bond proposals in the May budget revisions he presented Friday. Newsom stressed emphatically that the state has no plans to issue revenue anticipation notes despite expectations that $49 billion in anticipated revenues won’t come

Municipals were weaker in spots to end the week, while U.S. Treasuries and equities saw losses on continued concerns over the debt limit impasse and questions over the Federal Reserve’s next policy moves. Municipals mostly stayed in their own lane throughout the week but UST weakness Friday seeped into the secondary Friday, moving yields higher

Illinois trimmed its revenue estimates for the current fiscal year and must absorb higher social services expenses next year, leaving less room to maneuver as lawmakers finalize a supplemental spending package and new budget. They’re entering the homestretch of their spring session that’s slated to end May 19 with passage of a fiscal 2024 budget

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board will not be forced to turn over documents that may have provided a clearer picture of finances pertinent to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed an appeals court decision, rejecting journalist group Centro de Periodismo Investigativo’s (CPI) request for Puerto Rico Oversight Board papers.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s tax relief package is one step closer to passage despite slumping revenue figures. On Tuesday, the state Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a $55.8 billion budget for fiscal ’24, forwarding along to the Democratic-controlled chamber a $575 million tax cut plan that preserves many of the proposals the governor

UBS will pay $850,000 to a Texas public school district in a settlement over the bank’s inability to underwrite bonds under a state law prohibiting government contracts with companies that “boycott” the fossil fuel industry, the state attorney general announced Friday. The settlement involves a $18.6 million Normangee Independent School District competitive bond sale the