Shelly Sigo

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley Friday announced the allocation of the first half of $236 million of qualified school construction bonds to help 46 school systems that applied to the program to finance the construction or repair of public school buildings.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Birmingham’s current budget is underfunded by $20 million, the new acting mayor announced yesterday in a disclosure that could lead to a review of the Alabama city’s double-A credit rating.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Birmingham, Ala., finance director Steve Sayler resigned late Monday, a city official confirmed.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Burdened by millions in unfunded pension obligations, Prichard, Ala., on Tuesday filed notice in federal court of its intention to enter Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy — for a second time.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Larry Langford, convicted on 60 bond-related corruption felony charges late Wednesday, was removed from office as Birmingham’s mayor.

BRADENTON, Fla. — ­Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford was convicted on 60 federal charges, nearly all related to his tenure as president of the Jefferson County Commission when $3.2 billion of sewer debt was refinanced.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia next week plans to bring $700 million of new-money and refunding general obligation bonds to market. As much as $400 million of the offering is expected to sell as the state’s first taxable Build America Bond transaction.

Kentucky’s auditor of public accounts, Crit Luallen, is one of eight state and local government officials being honored for leadership as a 2009 Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials announced Monday that the airport received $34 million in stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help pay for construction of the new Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. International Terminal.

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday downgraded Gulf County’s limited ad-valorem tax bond rating to Ba1 from Baa3.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Kentucky State Property and Buildings Commission today expects to complete pricing $393.3 million of new-money lease revenue bonds, a large portion of which is expected to sell as taxable Build America Bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The pay-to-play corruption trial of Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford began last Monday in Tuscaloosa, and before the week ended two of the government’s star witnesses described their roles in bribing Langford while he was president of the Jefferson County commission.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Top Florida officials are considering calling a special session of the Legislature in early December to solve problems that could prevent the state from getting federal stimulus funds for a variety of rail projects.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Tennessee State Funding Board late Tuesday adopted sweeping changes to the state’s guidelines governing cities and counties that want to enter into interest rate swaps and other exotic financial transactions.

Kentucky’s preliminary unemployment rate fell to 10.9% in September, which was down from 11.2% in August, the Office of Employment and Training said Tuesday.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear last week appointed the 11 members of the new Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority.

Supporters of Florida Forever, the state’s land conservation program, have launched an effort to convince the Legislature to restart bond financing so that the state can resume purchasing land while real estate prices are low.

Fitch Ratings Tuesday downgraded to A from A-plus $114 million of Indian River County School Board’s outstanding certificates of participation. The rating outlook is stable.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Hurricane ­Catastrophe Fund could be back in the bond market next year to again sell debt to pay damage claims caused by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The $1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel project Thursday reached financial closing — a conclusion that took nearly four years due to economic challenges, political problems, and diminished access to credit for large transportation-related public-private partnerships.