Shelly Sigo

In a one-day special session Friday, the Mississippi Legislature approved the issuance of $175 million of general obligation bonds as incentives for two major development projects.

Moody’s Investors Service last Thursday downgraded the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s revenue bonds to A1 from Aa3. The move affects $692.4 million of outstanding debt. The outlook is stable. The HCAA oversees Tampa International Airport on Florida’s west-central coast.

Former Jefferson County commissioner Larry Langford last week requested that the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rehear the appeal of his pay-to-play conviction.

Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos said Tuesday that he is interested in becoming Jefferson County’s first manager. The 11-year former state representative is seeking an interview with the County Commission, he announced at a press conference.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority bondholders, in limbo since a majority of authority board members resigned and having seen a payment default July 1, may see some relief soon.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Tampa, Fla., Tuesday priced $121 million of water and sewer revenue bonds in a deal where more than half the sales went to retail buyers after the underwriters were incentivized to find them.

BRADENTON, Fla. - A federal bankruptcy judge in Tampa on Monday issued a final ruling in a developer's Chapter 11 filing that could have a chilling effect on owners of Florida community development district bonds, observers said.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board’s revenue debt to Baa1 from A3 with a negative outlook. The move affects $172 million of outstanding sewer revenue bonds.

The Atlanta Development Authority is seeking candidates interested in becoming its chief financial officer.

Georgia Department of Transportation chief engineer Gerald Ross will become the director of the state’s public-private partnership program. A 29-year veteran of GDOT, he replaces Sandra Burgess, who is retiring this week.

The termination of NASA’s space shuttle program, primarily located at the Kennedy Space Center in central Florida, is a credit negative for Brevard County and surrounding areas, Moody’s Investors Service said in Monday’s Weekly Credit Outlook.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell last week won reelection for another two years, handily besting five challengers with 88.9% of the vote.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jefferson County, Ala., late Friday released its 2009 audit, with authors reiterating as they did earlier this year that the County Commission's ability to continue as a going concern is in substantial doubt without restructuring the local government's troubled debt.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A federal bankruptcy judge has allowed Lambuth University to lease its grounds to Tennessee's Board of Regents so that utilities remain on and the University of Memphis can begin offering classes there this fall.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Charleston County, S.C., Wednesday received its third gilt-edged rating, this time from Fitch Ratings, which cited the coastal county's strong finances and diversity in job growth despite the recession.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Emmet & Co. and First Manhattan Co. have filed suit against Catholic Health East and Merrill Lynch claiming that $132.26 million of escrowed bonds issued by conduit entities in three states were improperly called.

The Clay Gas Utility District of Clay County on Tuesday filed a notice saying that it hopes to make a tender offer for some or all of its bonds, which are in default.

Gov. Robert Bentley Tuesday announced the appointment of Marquita Davis as director of the Alabama Finance Department.

House Financial Services Committee chairman Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., last week told mayors in Jefferson County that he believes the right decisions will be made by county commissioners dealing with the sewer debt crisis, according to the Birmingham News.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Oct. 4 will hear arguments in the appeal filed by former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White.