HOWARD COUNTY, Maryland, with the third-highest U.S. median household income, plans to sell about $194 million of general- obligation bonds as soon as next week through competitive bid, according to a preliminary official statement. The county issued $160 million of debt in February and is selling again in part to finance its April purchase of the Ascend One building in Columbia, Maryland. The bonds are rated AAA, the highest from Standard & Poor's. (Added Oct. 20)
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY, with $648 million of general revenue last fiscal year, will sell $600 million of senior sales-tax bonds as soon as next week, according to a preliminary official statement. The bonds will fund local school construction and repairs. Barclay's Capital will lead a syndicate of banks. (Added Oct. 20)
ILLINOIS, which approved the biggest tax increase in state history to close a deficit this year, plans to sell $300 million of Build Illinois sales-tax revenue bonds by competitive bid as early as next week, according to a preliminary official statement. The program will fund infrastructure, educational and vocational projects and provide incentives for businesses that plan to hire workers in the state. The bonds are rated AAA by S&P, the top grade. (Added Oct. 19)