Florida

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.

The Federal Aviation Administration has delayed closing 149 air traffic control towers until June 15, including 14 in Florida — the largest number of facilities affected in one state.

The Florida Department of Transportation has extended the time for firms interested in the $2.1 billion managed-lanes project on Interstate 4 through Orlando to submit their qualifications.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund expects to return to the municipal bond market next week to sell $2 billion of high-grade taxable bonds.

General aviation airport officials in Florida and across the country will discuss the implications of tower closings Tuesday in a conference call with the Federal Aviation Administration

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing two separate series of hospital revenue bonds totaling $142.2 million that were issued by the Highlands County, Fla., Health Facilities Authority in 2005 and 2007 and then redeemed.

The Internal Revenue Service's own appraisal valuations show the Village Center Community Development District in Florida did not overpay when purchasing four pieces of property with bond proceeds, according to the CDD's lawyer.

Standard & Poor's Monday revised the outlook to stable from negative on Osceola County, Fla.'s general obligation bonds.

Florida's Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority has scheduled a meeting April 10 but a resolution to the agency's ongoing default on $131.2 million of bonds is not expected to be on the agenda.

The Florida Senate's Gaming Committee on Monday unanimously passed a bill that bans Internet cafes by clarifying current gaming laws concerning slot machines, charitable drawings, game promotions, and amusement games. A similar measure is being considered in the House.

The Florida Cabinet Tuesday authorized the issuance of up to $490 million of turnpike refunding bonds to lower interest rates within existing maturities.