Changes in tax policy (federal, state and local), tariffs and market volatility were key defining features of 2018 that will continue to reverberate in 2019.  Understanding when these changes hit the budgets and planning cycles of both government and private… Continue Reading →

A morning ramble through readings that speak to infrastructure, future job growth, lame duck politics and a new report from the Volcker Alliance. Apple is expanding nationally; lots of new jobs and a $1 billion investment in North Austin. Amazon… Continue Reading →

First of all, I want to thank the committee for giving me this great honor. I’m going to tell you a bit about myself and my career and then offer a few words about how I’m seeing the municipal market… Continue Reading →

Last week we sent around an article from Citylab about the property valuation of big box stores.  Some courts have been upholding use of “dark stores” as comparables to living, vibrant ones.  This trend is not good for communities that… Continue Reading →

We were surprised to see two articles implying a connection between municipal bankruptcy, underfunded pensions and other post-employment benefits (aka OPEB).  The first, from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), channeled Meredith Whitney’s 2010 prediction that there would be 50-100 defaults… Continue Reading →