Southeast

Municipal bond issuance in the Southeast during the first half of this year was up by 57% to $34 billion - nearly the same amount that was lost between 2011 and 2010.

Mississippi's higher education officials last week said they have $683.9 million in capital needs, and they hope the Legislature will address some of that with bonding capacity next year.

The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana filed a suit in state court Aug. 16 to stop the implementation of a new state pension plan proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and passed by the 2012 Legislature.

The number of state boards and commissions in Louisiana has fallen to a total of 492 entities after peaking at 513 in 2004, legislative auditor Daryl Purpera said Aug. 20 in a report to lawmakers.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., City Commissioners Tuesday selected the finance team for the proposed issuance of $340 million of taxable pension bonds.

The Miami-Dade School Board last week gave final approval to placing a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot to ask voters for approval to issue $1.2 billion of bonds for its South Florida schools.

Tampa Bay Water on Monday voted to issue bonds to finance some of the repairs to its cracked reservoir.

Bankrupt Jefferson County has rejected the lease securing $82.5 million of warrants. A payment default could occur on Oct. 1, though the debt is insured by Ambac.

A Florida law allowing local governments to declare a "financial urgency" can be an effective strategy for budget relief, says Fitch. Miami has used it several times.

Lloyds TSB sold its defaulted Jefferson County, Ala., sewer warrants, and is the second creditor to drop an appeal in the nation's largest municipal bankruptcy.