Labor shortages, aging infrastructure, and affordable housing rank as the primary challenges facing public entities, according to respondents to HilltopSecurities’ 2024 Public Entity Survey. The survey, conducted between May and August, contains responses from more than 1,200 public sector employees and municipal market participants. Of those taking the survey, employees of cities, counties, and school

The Biden administration Tuesday announced the strictest-ever safe drinking water rule that will require almost all cities to replace their toxic lead pipes within the next 10 years. “Folks, what is a government for if it cannot protect the public health?” Biden asked a crowd Tuesday in Milwaukee, where he announced the rule. The  Lead

To better provide its clients with emission estimates and portfolio analytics in munis, along with other fixed-income asset classes, ICE has launched a climate transition risk solution. Along with ICE’s current coverage of sovereign, corporate equity, and private companies, the new solution allows clients to “assess and benchmark their financed emissions across a comprehensive range of fixed-income

November’s election carries potentially high stakes for universities and colleges that have already found themselves facing the glare of Capitol Hill’s spotlight over the past year. The new administration and Congress are expected to take up tax reform next year, which could reshape the tax treatment of nonprofit higher-education institutions. House Republicans have criticized the

Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Ratings downgraded Xavier University, a private Jesuit college in Cincinnati, to A-minus from A and to Baa1 from A3, respectively, last week.  Fitch pointed to the school’s decision to take on more debt to finance the construction of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine at a time when operating performance has

Municipals were weaker Tuesday with the largest losses out long while U.S. Treasuries saw narrow gains on the day and equities ended up. Triple-A yields rose by up to five basis points, depending on the scale, while USTs saw yields flat or lower by a basis point or two. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was

An ongoing investigation into overcharging on San Diego’s state route 125 toll road found implementation of the back-office system encountered problems from the onset, and San Diego Association of Governments’ executive management failed to address the situation in a timely manner, including informing the board of directors. SANDAG’s independent performance auditor released two investigations Monday

A new board of supervisors and a new name shouldn’t impact the first bond sale by the district enveloping Disney’s theme parks since Florida stripped Disney of its control of the district, but Hurricane Milton’s impact is a concern, analysts said. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which had been the Reedy Creek Improvement District,

Investors have been pumping larger amounts of cash into muni mutual funds over the past several weeks due to positive returns for the asset class and some clarity from the first Federal Reserve rate cut, with some market participants believing a larger inflow cycle is only beginning. Mutual funds saw inflows to the tune of

The District of Columbia is saddled with slowed jobs and economic growth, but has still managed to score a boost in five credit ratings from Moody’s Ratings. “Moody’s upgrades are a testament to the district’s solid financial management and strong economic fundamentals,” said Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee.  “We are extremely pleased by this recognition

Illinois’ bonds are underappreciated, Wells Fargo Head of Municipal Markets Strategy Vikram Rai said Monday as he released a report on the state titled, “Why Illinois Beckons.” “All the negative news was drowning out all the positive news and the positive developments about Illinois’ improving story,” Rai said during Monday’s municipal market weekly call, noting

When Chicago’s City Council meets on Wednesday, it will decide whether to sell controversial refunding bonds and deal with Friday’s resignation of the entire seven-member Chicago Public Schools board. According to the agenda, the finance committee at its Oct. 2 meeting approved an ordinance authorizing the refunding of the city’s Series 2024 general obligation and

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo has named Elena M. Gallo as its new head of government banking, where she will oversee the bank’s commercial banking division that serves more than 3,000 government agencies, public utilities, transportation, and housing authorities across 43 states and the District of Columbia. Gallo will replace Mara Holley, who is retiring after

The University of Arizona heads to the municipal bond market this week with its first bond issue since financial troubles led to negative rating outlooks from Moody’s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings. The $115.645 million of Stimulus Plan for Economic and Educational Development, or SPEED, revenue bonds issued through the Arizona Board of Regents will

Moody’s upgraded Pennsylvania’s issuer default rating to Aa2 from Aa3 Monday, ahead of the commonwealth’s plans to sell at least $1.4 billion of general obligation bonds.  The Keystone State is now at its highest rating since 2013, before the state’s finances were mired by partisan conflict between and among the two houses of the legislature