Shelly Sigo

Miami commissioners late last week approved the sale of $92 million of bonds to build parking facilities for the Florida Marlins’ new baseball stadium, which is under construction.

Jefferson County commissioner ­William Bell became mayor of Birmingham Tuesday with 54% of the vote, defeating lawyer Patrick Cooper.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Tennessee’s Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County tonight is expected to take a final vote on whether to move forward with its largest public works project ever — even though the cost could lead to a rating downgrade.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on Friday unveiled budget cuts for the current fiscal year and proposed an $18.2 billion budget for fiscal 2011 that includes $900 million of debt issuance.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Eight of 11 legislatures in the Southeast began annual sessions in the last 10 days, and budget details, as well as debt prospects, have been avoided by the four governors who have addressed lawmakers so far.

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday downgraded Spelman College’s debt rating to A1 from Aa3.

The Atlanta Development Authority Tuesday said it closed a $25 million single-family housing bond issue funded through the new-issue bond program using authority granted under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded $84.5 million of outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds sold by the city of Hollywood to A1 from A2.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The ­Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is seeking more than $10 million in damages in a federal suit against JPMorgan and Bear, Stearns & Co. over failed auction-rate securities that the state-run, nonprofit insurer was forced to refinance.

BRADENTON, Fla. — After more than a year of negotiations, New Orleans has filed an amended complaint in its federal suit against Ambac Assurance Corp., Ambac Financial Services LLC, PaineWebber Capital Services Inc., and UBS Securities LLC.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Facing a budget shortfall of $1.5 billion over the next two years, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear told lawmakers late Wednesday that efforts so far to restructure debt and cut expenses won’t be enough for the state to avoid more “painful decisions about where we spend money.”

BRADENTON, Fla. — Miami-Dade County next week plans to offer $600 million of aviation revenue bonds to continue financing for a major capital improvement program at Miami International Airport that is nearing completion.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida today expects to complete negotiated pricing of $263.4 million of Florida Forever revenue bonds, representing the last debt authorized for the state’s long-running environmental and conservation land-protection program.

Former Georgia state senator Kasim Reed on Monday took the oath of office and became Atlanta’s 59th mayor, succeeding Shirley Franklin, who could not run again after serving two terms.

A federal judge in Birmingham Monday delayed the sentencing of Montgomery bond dealer William Blount and Alabama lobbyist Albert LaPierre. Both men pleaded guilty last year to pay-to-play charges related to Jefferson County’s troubled sewer debt and were scheduled to be sentenced today.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Standard & Poor’s yesterday affirmed its A-minus rating, with a stable outlook, on the Prichard Waterworks and Sewer Board in Alabama.

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson has extended the deadline until Jan. 8 for his office to receive public comments on a proposed model debt-management policy for local governments.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded Collier County’s capital improvement revenue bonds to A2 from A1.

The Jefferson County Commission has enacted a new occupational tax, as required by the Alabama Legislature, but a local dentist has filed a lawsuit challenging it.

Florida school districts face rising negative fiscal and credit pressures stemming from the weak economy, funding uncertainties, and property tax reform, Moody's Investors Service said in a special report last week.