Shelly Sigo

In the Nov. 2 election, a referendum that would have given Florida public school officials more flexibility to accomplish class-size reductions was approved by a majority of voters but did not get the supermajority required to pass.

Florida’s Cabinet approved the sale of about $400 million of new and refunding bonds on Tuesday.

A preliminary report on the impact of the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana predicts that Alabama could suffer losses up to $3.3 billion in economic output, $971 million in earnings, and nearly 49,000 jobs under a worst-case scenario through the end of this year.

MIAMI — Despite some setbacks in privatizing major U.S. airports, including the economic downturn and contraction among airlines, prospects remain good for future public-private partnerships, industry experts and airline officials said here Tuesday.

MIAMI — With the potential expiration of popular Build America Bonds at the end of the year, issuers looking to finance transportation projects should not rule out using variable-rate debt in their portfolios or wrapping bonds with insurance, experts said here Monday.

Atlanta may bring its next airport bond issue to market sooner than anticipated because of widespread investor interest in last week's successful sale of $588 million for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, officials said.

A new county commission in Jefferson County, Ala., will be seated Wednesday and is entrusted with resolving the continuing saga of how to deal with nearly $3.2 billion of variable- and auction-rate sewer warrants.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Defaults by some Florida community development districts that sold “dirt bonds” to finance infrastructure improvements for residential and commercial real estate projects continued Monday as debt-service payments came due.

Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday removed $460 million of mortgage revenue bonds issued in 15 separate series by the Mississippi Home Corp. from watch for possible downgrade.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was among eight state and local government officials around the country named Governing’s 2010 Public Officials of the Year.

Moody’s Investors Service on Monday upgraded to Aa2 from A1 the Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority’s Series 2007A and B revenue bonds sold to make repairs and improvements at the Atlanta Zoo and to refinance outstanding debt.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The newly created Florida Education Investment Trust Fund has hired PFM Asset Management LLC as its investment adviser.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Atlanta this week will bring to market nearly $600 million of bonds for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the facility’s first long-term fixed-rate financing in six years.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Standard & Poor’s Thursday changed its outlook on the A rating it assigns to Atlanta’s general obligation bonds and other credits to negative from stable, citing concerns about the city’s weak liquidity and internal fund borrowing practices.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the validation of $29 million of bonds that Sarasota and Sarasota County want to sell to renovate the spring training ­facilities of Major League Baseball’s ­Baltimore Orioles.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Like other cities ­dealing with congestion, Atlanta has been searching for ways to move people around downtown without building new roads or ­adding more vehicles.

Voters will be asked Tuesday to give the Georgia Department of Transportation the flexibility to enter into multi-year construction agreements.

Triple-A Palm Beach County plans to establish what is believed to be its first underwriting pool of qualified investment banking firms to serve as senior managers and co-managers for negotiated bond sales and other financial transactions.

The Birmingham City Council increased the lodging tax rate on Tuesday to support bond financing of a minor league ballpark and related facilities.

Alabama voters Tuesday will be asked whether they want to spend $1 billion over 10 years for a pay-as-you-go transportation program.