Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $368 million in special projects from the fiscal 2014 budget he received from the Legislature. The final $74.1 billion spending plan is the state's largest.

With market conditions continuing to improve, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund should have no problem issuing bonds to pay claims over the next 12 months.

Miami-Dade County is worried about its swaps going south if Congress tinkers with the tax exemption on municipal bonds. The county had swaps covering $953 million of bonds as of September 2012.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Friday that recent federal legislation will allow the FAA to prevent the closure of 149 federal contract air traffic control towers though fiscal 2013.

Three National Football League teams in the Southeast recently ended hard-fought battles for public funds to build or improve their stadiums. Only two succeeded. The struggle was not unusual, experts say.

Florida Legislators passed a $74.5 billion budget on Friday but the House turned down the Miami Dolphins' funding request toward $400 million in stadium improvements.

A bill reducing the exposure and potentially reducing future bond issuance by Florida's Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk.

The Internal Revenue Service has told a Florida Congressman that the agency will not be providing guidance on political subdivisions that would affect community development districts in the state.

Financially strapped Miami has notified bondholders that the Catholic Archdiocese has filed a lawsuit against the city seeking $89 million dollars in damages, plus interest, attorneys' fees, and expenses.

In this final week of legislative session, Florida lawmakers may give final approval to a bill that would authorize Neighborhood Improvement Districts to issue bonds backed by special assessments.

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday became the third agency to withdraw its rating on $131.2 million of defaulted toll-bridge bonds issued by north Florida's Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority.

In the final stretch of Florida's annual session, lawmakers are taking action on a $74.5 billion state budget, bills affecting agencies with bonding authority, and subsidies to finance pro-sports stadium upgrades.

Miami-Dade County commissioners at their regular meeting May 7 will be asked to create a task force to study increasing the local sales tax to pay for needed infrastructure.

The National Football League Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, both made significant headway toward public financing for major stadium projects.

The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority is asking Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Santa Rosa County Commission to appoint new members so it can continue to meet.

Miami-Dade County commissioners Tuesday began the process of approving $4.24 billion of bonds to finance water and sewer system capital improvements and repairs mostly related to a consent decree.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance Corp. sold $2 billion of taxable bonds Wednesday that were oversubscribed by investors looking for yield, and at interest rates below what the agency anticipated.

The legal work in municipal offerings is serious business, but there were few dull moments when bond attorney Elise Judelle was on the deal. Judelle, one of Florida's first female bond attorneys, retired March 29.

The Miami Dolphins have reached agreement with Miami-Dade County for partial public funding of a nearly $400 million stadium modernization project.

First Southwest Co. says it will protest plans by issuers who cut broker-dealers out of financial advisory work.