Shelly Sigo

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Legislature late Tuesday finished work on a bill enacting a statewide comprehensive passenger rail policy and providing funds for existing and new rail projects.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has ordered another $54.3 million in budget cuts, as revenue projections have persistently outpaced actual collections.

Gilt-edged Georgia has refinanced approximately $658 million of its outstanding general obligation bonds at lower interest rates that will save the state more than $35 million of debt service, including $18.3 million in the state’s current fiscal year, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced.

Florida’s Senate president, Jeff Atwater, R-Palm Beach, has announced the creation of a new Senate Budget Office to provide greater oversight of legislative expenditures.

Voters in Birmingham went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new mayor but a crowded field of more than a dozen candidates on the ballot resulted in a runoff to be held Jan. 19 between Patrick Cooper, an attorney who led with 40% of the ballots cast, and Jefferson County commissioner William Bell, who took 25% of votes.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida House yesterday passed a bill adopting a statewide passenger rail policy and creating a commission to oversee existing and new rail projects.

BRADENTON, Fla. — On the heels of a rating upgrade to triple-A, the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Water Works Board in Kentucky tomorrow plans to competitively sell $78.5 million of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds and $127.8 million of federally taxable Build America Bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday approved Gov. Charlie Crist’s request to impanel a statewide grand jury to conduct a year-long investigation into government corruption.

Standard & Poor’s on Monday raised its underlying rating on Louisville and Jefferson County Metro Government’s Board of Water Works’ revenue bonds to AAA from AA-plus.

Provisional ballots to be counted today may determine Atlanta’s next mayor.

The Georgia Department of Transportation today hosts an industry workshop in Atlanta about its new public-private partnership program.

The Florida Legislature begins a special session today to consider creating a statewide passenger rail policy and to approve funding for existing and new rail projects.

Jefferson County commissioners last week decided they will no longer seek a $25 million line of credit from Regions Bank, according to local publications.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Against the backdrop of an annual internal audit critical of some of Miami’s budget practices, two agencies have assigned ratings to the city’s upcoming sale of $120 million of revenue bonds with the proceeds financing a parking garage for a Major League Baseball stadium.

The Atlanta City Council on Monday unanimously approved a new lease with Delta Air Lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The city of Sunrise on Monday removed Bank of America Merrill Lynch from its underwriting syndicate because its parent company, Bank of America NA, has come under fire in Florida for its mortgage and loan restructuring ­practices.

Florida’s elected Cabinet on Tuesday authorized the sale of nearly $1.5 billion of debt.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 8 to consider a motion for relief sought by 50 retirees who are suing the city of Prichard, which filed for municipal bankruptcy in October.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Saying that Jefferson County, Ala.’s sewer debt crisis has gone on too long, a grassroots organization of business leaders is trying raise public support to press local politicians and the county’s creditors for a solution.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Cullman County, Ala., Health Care Authority tomorrow plans to issue $75 million of fixed-rate revenue refunding bonds and pay a swap termination fee to restructure its debt portfolio.