Far West

The Internal Revenue Service closed its audit of $28.72 million of special assessment bonds issued by the Bartram Park Community Development District in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2005 without any changes to the tax-exempt status of the bonds.

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for two representatives of the tax-exempt bond community to serve on its 21-member Advisory Committee for the Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division, called ACT.

WASHINGTON - The House voted by an overwhelming 405-to-16 margin on Thursday to repeal a tax law provision that would require federal, state and local governments to withhold and remit 3% of certain payments made to private contractors beginning in 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO - California Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled a pension reform plan Thursday that would affect both current and new workers in state and local government in an effort to control rising costs.

WASHINGTON - Bond lawyers want Congress and the Treasury Department to allow muni issuers to current refund certain tax-advantaged bonds, even after they can no longer issue the bonds under existing tax law.

LOS ANGELES - Afraid of jeopardizing its tax-exempt bond status, the California Housing Finance Agency has been foreclosing on homeowners who are renting out homes financed by the agency - even if they are current on their mortgages, according to a report by the state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.

A new poll shows that a statewide ballot initiative to limit highway tolls in Washington has lost traction with voters, according to the Seattle Times.

Fitch Ratings downgraded more than $370 million of debt issued for Eisenhower Medical Center to BBB from A-minus.

San Diego-based Rady Children’s Hospital received an A-plus from Fitch Ratings on $150 million of bonds to be sold through negotiation the week of Nov. 7.

San Jose is weighing a parcel tax to help cover a $1 billion bill to upgrade streets over the next decade, according to a published report.