Shelly Sigo

Miami Beach commissioners last week agreed to ask voters to increase the local tourist tax by 1% to renovate the city’s convention center and pay debt service. The tax will be on the Aug. 14 statewide primary ballot.

The case administrator in Jefferson County, Ala.’s municipal bankruptcy case last week recommended the appointment of an unsecured creditors committee.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia has restarted the Northwest Corridor congestion-reliever project in the Atlanta metropolitan region using a traditional approach to its construction and funding, as opposed to a public-private partnership.

BRADENTON, Fla. — In a rapid fall from grace, the popular Fulton Science Academy Inc. in Georgia has seen its BBB investment-grade rating plummet to CC less than seven months after issuing $19 million of bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Atlanta's proposed 13-year extension to comply with the terms of a federal consent decree related to sewer overflows is a credit positive, Moody's Investors Service said in a special report Monday.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund may seek up to $1.7 billion of financing from the municipal market in the upcoming months.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Of Florida's 67 counties, an "unprecedented" 52 have joined a lawsuit challenging a new state law that county officials say could impair their ability to make bond payments and meet debt coverage requirements while reducing bonding capacity.

Atlanta officials announced Monday that they reached a proposed agreement with the federal government and the state of Georgia to modify a 1999 federal wastewater consent decree.

Birmingham, Ala., Mayor William Bell reportedly wants to ask voters for twice the bonding authority he originally sought, according to the Birmingham News.

Federal bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett on Monday continued indefinitely proceedings related to Financial Guaranty Insurance Co.’s request for sewer rate increases in Jefferson County.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee passed an amended bill Tuesday that is designed to bring fiscal relief to bankrupt Jefferson County.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday signed a $39.5 billion state budget into law for fiscal 2013.

BRADENTON, Fla. — For the first time in years, the Mississippi Legislature has ended its annual session without passing a bill authorizing new bonds for capital projects.

The Alabama Senate has passed legislation aimed at helping bankrupt Jefferson County, though it's not clear how effective the measure would be due to various restrictions in the bill.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Kentucky is seeking proposals from qualified teams to build its half of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.

Few days remain in the Alabama Legislature's annual session and lawmakers continue to argue over whether to provide bankrupt Jefferson County fiscal relief.

The Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority are leaning toward building a new football stadium with a retractable roof rather than renovate the existing Georgia Dome, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Georgia-based American Maglev Technology Inc. has proposed a 15-mile, $315 million elevated magnetic levitation train project to connect Orlando International Airport with several locations in central Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded Hillsborough County, Fla.’s community-investment tax revenue bonds to A1 from Aa2, and lowered the county’s court facilities refunding revenue bonds to A1 from Aa3.

Former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley is now working for Houston-based alliantgroup LP, a tax specialty services provider that helps companies take advantage of federal and state tax incentives.