Southeast

Word has surfaced that Los Angeles may make an offer for the Atlanta Falcons. The news comes as the Falcons are trying to negotiate for a new $1 billion stadium.

Miami-Dade County approved a resolution last week supporting a plan for public taxes to pay half the $400 million cost of upgrading the stadium where the NFL's Miami Dolphins play.

Citing fiscal imbalances, Fitch Ratings on Monday downgraded the implied general obligation of the Marion County School Board in north-central Florida to A-plus from AA-minus.

The new sewer rate structure recently approved by Jefferson County, Ala., commissioners is an interim plan that can be altered as creditors negotiate a settlement to restructure more than $3 billion of defaulted debt, the county said.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance Corp. is preparing to sell up to $2 billion of taxable notes this spring for liquidity to pay claims, if needed.

The Florida Department of Transportation is proposing a network of regional transportation toll authorities that would take some financing pressure off the state and move projects forward.

The Treasury and IRS have sent two separate letters to Sens. Lautenberg and Nelson regarding concerns over available financing for housing damaged by Hurricane Sandy and tax guidance on political subdivisions that would affect community development districts in Florida.

Two of Louisiana's Republican state representatives have filed suit in state district court contending that Gov. Bobby Jindal's operating budget for fiscal 2013 is unconstitutional.

Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service said the decision by the Florida Supreme Court upholding legislation requiring that employees contribute to the Florida Retirement System is positive for state and local governments.

The United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday tentatively scheduled oral arguments in the appeal involving Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer system receiver for the week of June 3. Creditors have appealed a ruling that stripped the receiver of the right to run the county's sewer system.