Florida

The upgrade affects most but not all of MEAG's outstanding bonds.

Moody's believes Florida will sell bonds to help replenish the CAT fund this spring.

Tourism Development Tax, sales tax, and Professional Sports Facilities tax and revenue refunding bonds were upgraded, impacting $628 million of debt.

In the long run, Helene and Milton may further drive already rising property insurance costs, while in the short-term S&P placed three utilities on CreditWatch.

Florida will use its own cash, not from a refunding bond, to buy up to $500 million of bonds tendered.

Mr. Barnett, whose journalism career stretched nearly half a century, was a "consummate professional," who was well-liked by colleagues and muni industry professionals.

Local governments that were in Hurricane Milton's path, however, will face significant credit challenges, Moody's said.

The district plans to price about $100 million of bonds Thursday, the first since Gov. Ron DeSantis took over control of it by appointing its board of supervisors.

Congress has created recovery bonds for specific disasters in the past, and the CDFA wants the tool to become a permanent private activity bond category.

Moody's also upgraded other Florida locality bonds recently as a result of a revised cities and counties rating methodology.

Florida's Aaa credit is a factor in all the upgrades, the rating agency said.

Florida's catastrophe fund will weather the storm and shouldn't need reinforcements yet. Two Florida-related sales are still expected next week.

Ramirez & Co. continues growth plans with the addition of bankers in Texas, Florida and New York.

They new hires will serve various functions in different regions of the country.

"That's great news, and it reflects the outstanding work and commitment of our city council and my administration to keep Tampa on rock-solid financial footing," said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

Florida's official outlook indicates the state government faces a $10 billion deficit by mid-2028 without major tax and spending changes.

Analysts say the Jacksonville, Florida, utility has been able to move past concerns over its attempt to breach a contract with MEAG and to privatize.

The bonds will fund infrastructure in one of 21 community development districts that have built the age-restricted 55-and-up Villages to more than 76,000 homes.

The region's municipal bond volume grew by 42.4%, outpacing the nationwide 32% increase in a first-half marked by gas prepay deals and Brightline's big sale.

Environmental, social and governance issues are a ripe debate among Republican states who oppose federal efforts they say are overly political.