Southeast

Ascension Parish, La. officials are considering a 25-year, $135 million road improvement program to be funded in part with $80 million of bonds supported by a proposed 0.5% increase in the parish's sales tax.

Wells Fargo Bank NA said in a market notice last week that the accelerated repayment of debt owed by a Georgia charter school, Fulton Science Academy, had been rescinded.

The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, Fla. missed its third bond payment on July 1 because toll revenues were insufficient to pay debt service, according to a market notice filed by Bank of New York Mellon.

Two Virginia authorities will price a total of more than $200 million of bonds in separate negotiated deals over the next week. The Virginia Resources Authority will price $81 million of bonds in a pool deal on behalf of 13 local issuers on July 12. In addition, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will sell $125.5 million of grant anticipation revenue bonds less than a week later.

Judson Freeman joined Florida-based Bryant Miller Olive PA on Monday. Freeman has 35 years of experience in public finance work, and will work in BMO's Jacksonville office.

Moody's Investors Service said Monday that a recent ruling in Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy case is a credit positive because it will prevent revenues securing the county's $3.14 billion of defaulted sewer warrants from being further diluted.

Tennessee State School Bond Authority will take $427.7 million of higher education facilities revenue bonds to market Wednesday and Thursday to catch a favorable market.

A U.S. appeals court will take up a lawsuit as early as October that attacks the financial backing of billions of bonds paying for the Washington Metrorail's Silver Line Extension to Dulles Airport.

Two refundings over the next two months will reduce New Orleans' annual debt service and remove an unsecured credit from the city's balance sheet.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell slammed the Obama administration last week for killing major energy initiatives that would bring new revenues and jobs to the state.