Alabama

Even with their largest county in bankruptcy, Alabama state legislators refused again to provide fiscal relief to Jefferson County and ended their regular session at midnight Wednesday.

The case administrator in Jefferson County, Ala.’s municipal bankruptcy case last week recommended the appointment of an unsecured creditors committee.

Birmingham, Ala., Mayor William Bell reportedly wants to ask voters for twice the bonding authority he originally sought, according to the Birmingham News.

Federal bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett on Monday continued indefinitely proceedings related to Financial Guaranty Insurance Co.’s request for sewer rate increases in Jefferson County.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee passed an amended bill Tuesday that is designed to bring fiscal relief to bankrupt Jefferson County.

Few days remain in the Alabama Legislature's annual session and lawmakers continue to argue over whether to provide bankrupt Jefferson County fiscal relief.

Former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley is now working for Houston-based alliantgroup LP, a tax specialty services provider that helps companies take advantage of federal and state tax incentives.

Bankrupt Jefferson County, Ala. last week dismissed counter charges against the Bank of New York Mellon for withdrawing $584,742 from a construction fund.

A federal judge in Birmingham Monday said that a portion of Jefferson County’s sewer system could be removed from the county’s 1996 consent decree for violations of the Clean Water Act.

The Alabama Senate last week passed a bill that would authorize the issuance of $650 million of revenue bonds for highways, roads and bridges.

The federal judge overseeing the Jefferson County, Ala., bankruptcy case has set deadlines for creditors to file proof of claims.

WASHINGTON — Birmingham and Montgomery, Ala., have the highest combined state and local tax rates, at 10%, among major U.S. cities, a new report found.

BRADENTON, Fla. — As a hearing continued in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday to determine what amount of sewer revenues will go to pay debt, Jefferson County said in a filing that it is pursuing avenues to set sewer rates and has hired a consultant.

With less than two weeks left in the 2012 legislative session, Alabama lawmakers have yet to consider bills that would provide fiscal relief to Jefferson County, the state's most populous county and home to Birmingham.

Tuesday afternoon the Birmingham News reported a federal district judge ruled that the county's creditors could appeal the county's eligibility to file for Chapter 9.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Balch & Bingham LLP will expand its public finance practice next month with the addition of the seven bond attorneys from Presley Burton & Collier LLC.

As Birmingham, Ala., continues to plan a referendum on a $75 million bond issue, the local school superintendent is proposing to ask voters for a tax increase, according to the Birmingham News.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s decision to skip general obligation warrant payments is yet another example of a troubling trend in municipal finance — the unwillingness to pay debts even when funds are available, observers said.

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved a resolution urging Jefferson County’s legislative delegation to reinstate an occupational tax or give the county limited home rule.

Jefferson County, Ala., said Wednesday that it will no longer make payments on its general obligation warrants.