Alabama

BRADENTON, Fla. — The receiver appointed to take charge of the debt-laden sewer system in Jefferson County is recommending that rates be increased to counter a decline in the number of customers, maintain the system and pay outstanding debt.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jefferson County ordered that plans to place nearly 1,000 employees on administrative leave without pay be prepared this week as the government struggles to stay solvent through the fiscal year end.

Former Jefferson County commissioner Chris McNair on Monday reported to a federal prison in Illinois to begin a five-year sentence for corruption related to contracts for rebuilding the county’s sewer system, according to the Birmingham News.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Jefferson County commissioners Tuesday began making plans for placing nearly 1,000 workers on administrative leave without pay as they await legislative action to help solve the Alabama county’s ongoing financial crisis.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Birmingham, Ala., Water Works Board on Monday will take orders from retail investors for $133.9 million of senior revenue bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Moody’s Investors Service Monday upgraded the Birmingham Water Works Board’s senior revenue bonds to Aa2 from Aa3 and its subordinate bonds to Aa3 from A1.

With 36 Alabama counties declared eligible for federal disaster assistance due to tornadoes and storms that ravaged the state on April 27, lawmakers took action to protect schools and homeowners.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The devastating string of tornadoes in the Southeast last week killed hundreds of people while wiping homes and businesses off the map.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama Supreme Court Friday denied a motion by JPMorgan and other defendants to dismiss a lawsuit that was filed by Jefferson County in November 2009.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Jefferson County, Ala., faces a $77 million deficit by the end of the fiscal year due primarily to the loss of tax revenues while “contingent” expenses could render the county insolvent, according to the national turn-around firm FTI Consulting.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Jefferson County, Ala., must restructure its troubled debt or take “other significant reorganization activities,” according to the county’s first audit in three years.

Jefferson County will not ask the Alabama Supreme Court for a rehearing on its occupational tax ruling, the Birmingham News reported Tuesday.

A federal trial challenging Alabama’s school-funding formula started Monday in Huntsville before Judge Lynwood Smith. The suit was filed two years ago by parents in rural north Alabama counties who claim that state funding for the public education system is based on a discriminatory formula that includes the lowest property-tax rate in the country.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama Supreme Court Wednesday struck down an occupational tax that provided one-third of Jefferson County’s general fund revenues, potentially setting the stage for the county to file for the largest municipal bankruptcy in history.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider the appeals of former Jefferson County commissioner Chris McNair and several contractors who were convicted on bribery charges related to the county’s sewer system.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Alabama Education Association, its political action committee, and five individuals have filed a federal suit challenging some of the ethics reform laws passed by the state Legislature in a mid-December special session.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Birmingham Commercial Development Authority is selling $72.02 million of revenue bonds Tuesday to finance a hotel and entertainment district in an effort by Alabama’s most populous city to attract larger conventions.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Nearly a year after beginning a 15-year sentence for pay-to-play crimes, former Jefferson County Commission President Larry Langford will get another day in court.

The Alabama Medicaid Agency will receive a $55 million federal performance bonus for implementing methods to enroll low-income children in the health insurance program in fiscal 2010, Gov. Bob Riley announced Monday.

The Jefferson County Commission wants to end its investment advisory services contracts and appoint an in-house committee to do the work, according to the Birmingham News.