Florida

Low interest rates on federal and bank loans for the $2.3 billion Interstate 4 Ultimate project in central Florida saved the state nearly $70 million from estimates, officials said.

The consortium fronted by Sweden's Skanska that is building the $2.3 billion Interstate 4 project in central Florida says it has reached financial close on the concession and loans.

Miami-Dade County will ask voters to approve $393 million in general obligation bonds to replace the county's 90-year-old civil courthouse.

Port St. Lucie, Fla., plans to issue new, long-term debt and use the proceeds to take out bonds issued for the bankrupt Digital Domain special effects studio project.

Fitch downgraded Florida's Pensacola International Airport bonds to BBB-minus from BBB primarily due to "financial underperformance" and airline consolidation risk.

Lake Worth, Fla., voters refused to OK $63.5 million in GO bonds on the Aug. 26 ballot, but other bond referendums are set for November.

Former Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority board member Scott Batterson was found guilty of bribery in a case that highlighted authority business, including bond discussions, being done in a backroom fashion despite state “sunshine” laws.

The consortium building the $2.3 billion Interstate 4 project in central Florida says bank and federal loans are cheaper than bonds for the state's largest public-private partnership project.

Miami-Dade County commissioners will consider placing a $540 million bond issue on the November ballot to build a new courthouse.

The terms of a loan turned the outlook on Florida Gulf Coast University's debt to negative, and could result in a rating downgrade of two notches, Standard & Poor's said.

Florida's government pensions generally don't drive negative credit pressure partly because of the flexibility to change benefits prospectively, Moody's said.

S&P cut its rating to CC from B on the Charter School of Boynton Beach, Fla.'s bonds saying there is a "virtual certainty of default."

A new Florida coalition pledges to work on municipal pension reform because it says cities face nearly $11 billion in debt from the obligations.

Southeast municipal bond issuers sold $21.78 billion of debt in the first six months of the year, a 31.4% decline driven by fewer taxable and refunding deals.

Halifax Hospital Medical Center in Florida will pay $11.9 million on top of $85 million to settle claims made by the federal government and a whistleblower.

Florida forecasters say final general revenue estimates for 2014 were off by $106.7 million but current year estimates for a $1 billion increase are on track.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott launched "Let's Keep Florida Beautiful," a campaign platform pledging to provide $1 billion for environmental protection.

Fitch revised the rating outlook to stable from negative on $307.4 million in bonds issued for Southwest Florida International Airport because traffic levels improving.

Fitch raised its ratings on Tampa, Fla.'s water and sewer revenue bonds to AAA from AA-plus noting the system’s "very strong financial performance."

Florida has hired legal counsel to sue the bankrupt Digital Domain over $20 million in state incentive funding.