Miami-Dade Adds Vets Bond Firm to Pool

The Miami-Dade County Commission last week made an exception in procurement regulations and added Drexel Hamilton LLC to the county's qualified pool of underwriters.

The firm, which has been featured in publications because its main goal is to train disabled veterans for careers in finance, obtained its license to sell municipal bonds in March 2011.

Several commissioners were concerned that other specialty firms would seek a similar exception, noting that the process for selecting underwriters for the pool does not open until 2016.

Commissioners, however, said they support veterans.

"I'm very proud of this because it's military," said sponsor Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz during a committee review of the item. "I'm going to stand 100% behind it."

In other action last week, commissioners voted to have the county mayor develop a funding plan to address $1.1 billion in needed sewer and water system repairs. The plan may include bond financing.

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Florida
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