Southeast

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist Friday unveiled a $69.2 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2011 that, if accepted by the Legislature, would authorize the least amount of annual debt issuance in more than a decade.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue Thursday said the state could not refinance $424.4 million of transportation debt because the board that oversees road projects has voted to ­maintain accounting practices that violate state law.

WASHINGTON — High-speed rail proponents rejoiced yesterday after President Obama announced the Federal Railroad Administration has awarded 31 states with a total of $8 billion of high-speed rail grants, the largest of which will go to California, Florida, and the Midwest region.

BRADENTON, Fla. — President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be in Florida today to announce which states will share in $8 billion of federal stimulus funding for high-speed rail projects, and the winners will include the Sunshine State.

WASHINGTON — The Virginia Housing Development Authority this week expects to sell $107.3 million of homeownership mortgage bonds as part of its second act under the Treasury Department’s New Issue Bond Program.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Lawyers for ousted Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford say the former Jefferson County commissioner who spearheaded the ill-fated refinancing of the county’s $3.2 billion of sewer debt will appeal his conviction on 60 federal charges.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Birmingham, Ala., welcomes new Mayor William Bell to office on Tuesday, which leaves a vacancy on the Jefferson County Commission as it continues to cope with $3.2 billion of troubled sewer debt.

DALLAS — Another $641 million could be added to Louisiana’s $1.5 billion of remaining authorization for Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds if already-allocated bonds are not sold by mid-August.

BRADENTON, Fla. — ­Nashville’s consolidated government leaders Tuesday night voted to move forward with a new convention center that could require as much as $650 million in bond financing that could price next month.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Facing a potential $1.5 billion shortfall over the next two years, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Tuesday night recommended an $18.4 billion biennial budget to lawmakers that calls for a total of $1.53 billion of new debt.