by Matt Tourville, Investment Adviser In the world of finance, it’s common to hear the phrase “a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.”  If you want one dollar at a certain time in the future, you will need some fraction of that dollar today and invest it for the time needed for […]

by Aaron Bushberger, Municipal Advisor and Brian Reilly, CFA, Senior Municipal Advisor | Managing Director In our December quarterly newsletter, we highlighted the re-emergence of market conditions that enhance the potential for complications related to arbitrage for issuers of tax-advantaged debt. Arbitrage is the “spread” between the interest you pay on tax-exempt bonds and the […]

by Harry Allen, Associate Municipal Advisor   The Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP) provides aid to Wisconsin communities that limit their spending growth. The ERP payment is in addition to the shared revenue payments made under the county and municipal aid program.  Counties cannot qualify for payments under ERP. Annual funding for the program has been […]

by Jeanne Vogt, Senior Fiscal Consultant and Jessica Cook, Director | Fiscal Consulting Minnesota’s complex property tax system was revisited in the last legislative session with the goal of making affordable housing more affordable and reducing property tax burdens for homeowners and farmers.  The legislature adjusted tax capacity rates for affordable housing and raised market […]

by Dan Tienter, Municipal Advisor and Kyle Sawyer, Senior Fiscal Consultant   With a shortage of skilled, knowledgeable workers and an unprecedented wave of staff departures, local governments are finding it increasingly difficult to plan for staff transitions.  Annual quit rates in the public sector workforce have increased from 6.1% in 2010 to 11.7% in […]

Can You Hear Me Now? The Power of Communication: Part II “Can you hear me now?” That catchy tagline from Verizon wireless commercials years ago often comes to mind when I think about communication. The ability to effectively communicate a key component relative to how leaders are perceived. It’s an impactful way to build trust […]

Banking Services Request for Proposals Getting the Most From Your Banking Relationship  By Tami Olszewski, Senior Investment Advisor and Dawn Lawson, Senior Client Service Advisor Do you ever open your community’s bank analysis statements and wonder if you’re getting the best value or benefit from your current banking relationship? Are your interest earnings competitive? What […]

Market Commentary The Fed Hits Pause…For Now. By Matt Tourville Investment Adviser Three months ago, this market commentary observed that predictions for future Fed tightening had greatly diminished in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. That commentary went to print while the SVB news was still fresh, and potential contagion across the […]

Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Planning Guidelines for Minnesota School Districts: 2025 Updates By Jodie Zesbaugh Senior Municipal Advisor “You work for a school district; you must have the summer off!”  Certainly, this is not the case for school district officials completing their 10-year Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requires four […]

Minnesota Legislative Session Housing Update & Potential Community Impacts By Keith Dahl, Municipal Advisor and Schane Rudlang, Municipal Advisor Housing, primarily affordable housing, has been a focal point at both the state and local level in Minnesota for many years. Rising interest rates, inflationary pressures on construction costs, perpetually high rents, and a general lack […]