Southeast

BRADENTON, Fla. — Orange County, Fla., on Tuesday plans to take bids for $116.8 million of taxable and tax-exempt sales tax refunding bonds.

Treasurer Manju Ganeriwala has helped helm Virginia's finances through two governors and a global recession, and though the commonwealth has emerged in better shape than many states, she remains concerned about pension reform and what she feels are misguided efforts at muni market regulation by federal authorities.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s decision to skip general obligation warrant payments is yet another example of a troubling trend in municipal finance — the unwillingness to pay debts even when funds are available, observers said.

DALLAS — The Louisiana State Bond Commission approved expanded parameters for a planned refunding of gas and fuels-tax bonds to a maximum of $850 million from the $400 million approved two weeks ago.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is auditing two special assessment bond issues totaling $64.46 million that were sold in May 2006 by the Wentworth Estates Community Development District in Florida and went into default.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A proposed tax-credit program designed to raise money for the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, and reduce its reliance on the bond market, is raising eyebrows and questions.

The Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission will study whether tolls on a six-mile stretch of Interstate 49 will support construction of the portion of the highway in Lafayette.

Completing Interstate 49 through a public-private partnership is one of the five state goals that were outlined last week by Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy.

Standard & Poor’s last week revised the outlook to stable from negative on Atlanta’s general obligation debt and appropriation-backed bonds issued on behalf of the city by various issuers.

Broward County, Fla., inspector general John Scott said Monday that top employees in the city of Lauderdale Lakes “have grossly mismanaged public funds entrusted to its care.”