Georgia

A ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in June handing Georgia a victory over drinking water withdrawal rights from tributaries in the Atlanta area may be in jeopardy. Alabama and Florida last week asked the appellate court to reconsider its ruling in the so-called water war between the states that has gone on well over a decade.

In July, the first month of fiscal 2012, triple-A rated Georgia saw net tax collections of $1.2 billion, an increase of 7.3% over the same month a year ago. Officials saw increases in many tax categories.

The Atlanta City Council is taking its message straight to constituents via social networking — an approach growing popular with local governments.

The Georgia Department of Transportation again selected HNTB Corp. as the prime consultant for the agency’s Innovative Program Delivery Technical Support Services initiative.

Chris Jones is the new chief financial officer for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. He take charge of the fiscal division, which oversees finance and accounting operations, manages loan underwriting, servicing and financial analysis, and provides program budget and administrative support.

BRADENTON, Fla. - A $1.1 billion transportation project aimed at alleviating congestion around Atlanta has qualified to apply for a low-interest federal loan as part of the financing plan.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday announced the completion of a deal allowing Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing to expand its plant and add up to 470 new jobs in exchange for $910 million of bonding capacity to help finance the project.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Atlanta is preparing to price $372 million of senior general revenue refunding bonds next week as the first of two deals this year for the world's busiest airline hub, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

BRADENTON, Fla. - William "Bill" J. Taggart is the new president and chief executive officer of Atlanta Life Financial Group, the firm's board of directors announced Monday.

The Atlanta City Council last week unanimously approved sweeping reforms to the city's retirement plan that will allow the city to avoid layoffs and cuts in service, and bolsters its fiscal stability, officials said.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta Tuesday overturned a federal judge's ruling that ordered massive cutbacks in drinking water withdrawals by Atlanta and surrounding communities from a federal reservoir known as Lake Lanier.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Triple-A rated Georgia on Tuesday is set to competitively price nearly $1 billion of new-money and refunding bonds in its largest single-day sale ever.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia issuers are facing new credit pressures and calls for conservation because of a looming deadline to cut back on withdrawals from certain river basins and a federal reservoir that provide drinking water to the state’s growing population.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The owners of the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers plan to sell the team to a group that will move them to Canada, leaving a void at the $213 million bond-financed Philips Arena.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Tuesday signed a $34.05 billion budget for fiscal 2012 into law.

Georgia in June plans to sell between $90 million and $100 million of general obligation bonds as part of the financing for a $140 million highway designed to improve truck access at the Port of Savannah.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday placed DeKalb County’s ratings under review for a downgrade, citing a strained liquidity position, doubts about achieving structural budgetary balance, and a larger-than-anticipated decline in taxable values.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Monday signed SB 122 into law, authorizing the use of public-private partnerships to develop drinking-water supply and related infrastructure projects.

The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia this week plans to sell $178.1 million of new and refunding subordinated revenue bonds.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The five-notch downgrade of DeKalb County, Ga., two weeks ago calls into question whether market participants can rely on the financial disclosure practices of issuers or their ratings, two municipal analysts say.