Tax-free prices drift 1/8 lower; Calif. hospital yield at 7.08%.

Tax-exempt bond prices drifted 1/8 point lower yesterday in lethargic trading in advance of today's moderate new-issue calendar.

In a negotiated offering, a $105 million California Health Facilities Authority secured revenue bond issue for Hospital of the Good Samaritan was offered to investors with a maximum yield of 7.08%.

Secondary activity was extremely light, and the "real bid" was even weaker than the 1/8 point decline reported for actively quoted dollar bonds, one trader said. Note prices were also slightly weaker on the day, but there was good investor interest for an offering of $185 million Illinois general obligation notes.

The California hospital deal reached the market through an underwriting account headed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. The issue is rated A1 by Moody's Investors Service and A by Standard & Poor's corp.

The $76.3 million maximum yield bonds, due 2021, were priced at 99 as 7s. There was also a $13.9 million term maturity in 2007 offered to investors at 99 as 6.90s to yield 7.005%. Serial bonds were scaled from 6.10% in 1995 to 6.85% in 2002.

The underwriters received the verbal award late yesterday.

First Boston Corp. headed the account for the Illinois note issue, and an officer at the firm reported the unsold balance down to $37 million.

The notes, dated Aug. 29, 1991, and due June 15, 1992, were offered with a 5-1/4% interest rate to yield 4.60%. They are rated MIG-1 by Moody's.

Today's competitive calendar features $120 million Maryland Department of Transportation bonds and $97 Wisconsin full faith and credit bonds. The maryland DOTs are rated Aa by Moody's and the Wisconsin GOs are rated double-A by Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

Traders yesterday said they were looking for a yield of about 6.75% in 20 years on the Wisconsin issue.

New York State Thruway Authority tops the negotiated schedule with an offering of $211.8 million local highway and bridge services contract revenue bonds. Dillon, Read & Co. is senior manager for the underwriters.

In secondary dollar bond trading, last week's New Jersey Turnpike Authority 6.90s of 2014 were being quoted in late trading at 99-1/8-3/8 to yield 6.95%. The offering is 3/8 higher than the member takedown. The more seasoned Turnpike 7.20s of 2018 were at 102-7/8-103 to yield 6.67% to the 1999 par call and 6.98% to the premium call in 1993.

In other dollar bond activity, Florida State Board of Education 7-1/4 of 2023 were at 102-3/4-103-1/4 to yield 6.86% to the 2004 par call. New York LGAC 7s of 2016 were at 98-98-1/2 to yield 7.13%. Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority 7s of 2021 were at 99-1/8-1/4, where they returned 7.14%. And Colorado River Authority insured 6-5/8s of 2021 were at 96-3/4-97-1/4 to yield 6.84%.

Prerefunded bonds were essentially unchanged on the day. The late market for issues prerefunded into 1995 was at 5.56% bid, 5.52% offered.

In the note market, New York State tax and revenue anticipation notes were quoted late in the day at 5.15% bid, 5.05% offered. California notes were at 4.57% bid, 4.50% offered for March paper and at 4.67% bid, 4.60% offered for June paper.

Negotiated Pricings

Jacksonville Beach, Fla., $38.4 million utility revenue bonds, series 1991.

Ratings: Moody's Aaa; Standard & Poor's AAA.

The offering is expected to be comprised of $20.7 million term bonds, due 2020, priced at 97.511 as 6-3/4 to yield 6.95%, $7.3 million term bonds of 2011 priced at 95.684 as 6-1/2s to yield 6.90%, and serials scaled from 5.70% in 1995 to 6.80% in 2006.

Smith Barney, Harries Upham & Co. is senior manager for the underwriters.

Illinois Health Facilities Authority, $20 million revenue bonds, series 1991 (Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers).

Ratings: Moody's Aaa; Standard & Poor's AAA. MBIA insured.

The serial bonds are tentatively priced to yield from 4.85% in 1992 to 6.65% in 2002. The term bonds of 2011 and 2021 are not being formally reoffered.

The bonds are being marketed through an account headed by Ziegler Securities. The official award is expected today.

New York State Dormitory Authority, $19.2 million Colgate University insured revenue bonds, series 1991A.

Ratings: Moody's Aaa; Standard & Poor's AAA. MBIA insured.

The $11.9 million term bonds of 2021 were priced at 96.795 as 6-1/2s to yield 6.75%. The $3.4 million term bonds of 2011 were offered at par to yield 6.70%; and the serials were scaled from 4.50% in 1992 to 6.45% in 2005.

The issue was negotiated by an account led by Dillon, Read & Co. The verbal award has been received.

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