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The article reports on the many obstacles that issuers are facing, as the market struggles its way through the auction-rate securities (ARS) crisis in Miami Beach, Florida. The increasing reluctance of banks to work on deals with insurance or any other bond insurers has made it more difficult to secure liquidity and other credit enhancements for issuers looking to convert out of ARS, including variable-rate demand bond (VRDB) deals placed with tax-exempt money market funds.

The article reports on the two cases facing by the Florida Supreme Court which focuses on separate community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) in the same county that could decide the future of tax increment financings (TIFs) in the state. According to the lawyers for Bay County, TIF bonds proposed by two municipalities in the county for their CRAs are unconstitutional without first getting voter approval through a referendum.

The article reports on the plan of city officials to build a new $450 million stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in Saint Petersburg, Florida. City officials are looking for developers who will pay the right price to turn Tropicana Field into a mixed-use project. The plan includes the use of tax-exempt and taxable bonds to finance a portion or all of a new 35,000-seat stadium at Al Lang Field.

The article reports on the receipt of qualifications from six consortiums by the Florida government for the state's transportation public-private partnership project. Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group US LLC is one of the firms that submitted qualifications to design, build, finance, and operate the 10.5-mile road project in central Broward County. The consortiums that express interest in the project include ACS Dragados-Macquarie Partnership, I-595 Development Partners, among others.

The article reports on the possibility that Supreme Court justices will likely consider narrowing their opinion in Strand v. Escambia County case in Tallahassee, Florida. The case, as cited, held that a voter approval must be secured by governmental entities in the country before issuing tax increment finance (TIF) bonds. It was brought into the public by veterinarian Gregory Strand who opposed Escambia County's plan of issuing $135 million of TIF bonds for road widening in Florida's panhandle.

Several graphs depicting position of the municipal market with reference to the revenue bonds from Atlanta, Florida and California are presented.

The article reports on the plan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to take possession of the agency despite efforts by Miami-Dade County to improve operations at its public housing agency in Florida. According to HUD, a demonstrated pattern of financial irresponsibility and mismanagement of its Section 8 rental housing voucher and public housing programs led it to seize the Miami-Dade Housing Agency. $9 million of special housing revenue refunding bonds were sold.

The article reports on the approval of an agreement to spend more than $1 billion by the City Council of Orlando, Florida to build and renovate the city's entertainment venues. In the said funding, $758 million of which will be financed with revenue bonds. However, the plan faces a final hurdle when the Orange County Commission considers the agreement because the county controls tourist development tax revenues, which are a major source of funding for the trio of projects.

The article reports on the statement of Florida Representative John Mica that pending Senate legislation to allow issuance of up to $7.8 billion in tax-credit bonds to improve the nation's rail infrastructure will not be enough to make the upgrades needed to finance high-speed rail. The bill would allow spending a total $19.2 billion on Amrak over six years. Also, it would authorize states and passenger railroad to issue up to $1.3 billion a year over the same period in tax credit bonds.

The article reports on the lawsuit filed by Digital Assurance Certification LLC (DAC) against the Municipal Advisory Council of Texas concerning an infringement on the patent that was bought by DAC for its disclosure system. DAC has sued the council's Central Post office for triple damages, injunctive relief and payment for the fees of its attorney. The lawsuit was filed on January 19, 2007 at the District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Orlando.

The article reports on the issue concerning the approval of a $450-million bond to build a new central county courthouse complex in Broward County, Florida. Voters in the county are not yet convinced about the approval of the bond issue and are reluctant to increase the sales tax to pay for more mass transit systems.

The article reports that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in Bradenton, California has approved a plan of finance including the issuance of about $1 billion of taxable and tax-exempt bonds. The finance will help cover a hurricane-related deficit and will retire taxable notes issued in 1999 that have racked up nearly $173 million in negative arbitrage.

The article reports on the issuance of $537.9 million of certificates of participation (COP) by the South Florida Water Management District in Florida to support the Everglades restoration project. The project aims to preserve the unique and historic everglades and its coastal estuaries and wildlife habitat, to provide flood control and protect fresh water resources. So far, it is the state's biggest COP offering ever.

The article reports on the pledged of gubernatorial candidates concerning the rising insurance premiums and property taxes in Florida. Observers commented that the candidate's proposals would raise debt issuance of the state or would shift financial burdens to local governments. For example, candidate Jim Davis proposed to eliminate the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, while Republican contender Charlie Crist suggested reducing the losses insurance firms must retain to draw from the Cat Fund.

The article provides updates on the 25-year finance proposal for infrastructure projects of Orange County, Florida. According to reports, the county commissioners are expected to approve a $2.97 billion budget for fiscal year 2007 as funding for the first year of the project. The infrastructure plans can be funded with up to $530 million of bonds.

The article reports that Florida's Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s Board of Governors recently gave final approval to the sale of $3.05 billion of taxable auction-rate bonds which is supposed to be the largest single new-money municipal bond deal ever from the Sunshine State. Due of its size, the transaction will have four co-senior managers, 10 co-managers, and four insurers. The deal will provide $2.82 billion of financing for Citizens' high-risk account, which consists of windstorm and property insurance policies in hurricane-vulnerable counties. Citizens plans to invest the proceeds of the Series 2006A bonds to pay back the debt. If required, Citizens will use bond proceeds to pay claims associated with future hurricanes.

The article reports on the expectation of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to issue three billion taxable auction-rate bonds in Florida. It is a state-run agency that offers property and windstorm insurance and has been structuring auction-rate bonds to finance high-risk account claims for the upcoming hurricane season. Aside from high-risk policies, it also offers residential and commercial-residential insurance.

The article reports on the 200 million dollars of transit system sales tax revenue bonds that the local government of Miami-Dade County, Florida will issue. The deal is part of a debt supporting an 8 billion dollars transportation plan. All-or-none bids for the Series 2006 bonds will be taken from Grant Street Group Municipal Auction Web site. The 30-year, fixed-rate bonds will be guaranteed by XL Capital Assurance Inc.

The article reports that the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is in the midst of a $400 million transaction that involves the sale of fixed- and auction-rate revenue bonds. The deal also includes partially unwinding several forward swaps associated with the financing. FMPA aims to meet Florida's growing need for electricity and to hedge against rising energy prices.

The article reports on various infrastructure developments in Florida. The development is an action taken by the government in response to its population growth. Some of the residential infrastructures are financed with tax-exempt bonds through the community developments districts (CDD). According to Bill Reagan, senior vice president at Banc of America Securities, the local governments are looking for improvements from developers in exchange for the approval of CDD proposals.

Reports on the creation of bills that would provide relief to Hurricane Wilma victims and increase tax-exempt bonding authority to aid reconstruction efforts by Florida legislators. Proponents of the Sunshine Opportunity Act of 2005; Scope of the Hurricane Wilma Tax Relief Act of 2005; Coverage of the House's version of reconciliation legislation.

Reports on the move of Fitch Ratings Inc. to lower the ratings for the bond issued by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in Florida. Indication of the downgrade in the insurer's significant losses; Amount of outstanding debt of the insurer; Assurance of the ratings agency that bondholders are protected despite the downgrade.

Reports on the approval of a 10-member underwriting syndicate for a 1.5 billion dollars financing by the board of the South Florida Water Management Districts. Usage of the proceeds to accelerate eight projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan; Acceptance of 27 proposals from firms interested in the development and marketing of a new credit selling certificates of participation to finance eight environmental restoration project; Evaluation of the proposals submitted by the underwriters.

Reports on the plan of Governor Jeb Bush to hold a statewide election for state voters to support a cash- and bond-funded program in Florida. Call for transportation funding increase without tax level changes; Part of the comprehensive growth management bill; Revision of the estimates of state revenues.

Reports on the debate within the municipal bond market concerning the impact of the proposed elimination of intangible tax on the demand for state's bonds in Florida. Absence of after-tax advantage over municipal bonds issued across the country; Total of the mutual funds; Offer of shareholders exemption from the state's intangibles tax.

Reports on the participation of Florida in other states that allow investor-owned power utilities to issue tax-exempt bonds. Aim to secure dedicated portion of their customers' bills to finance obligations; Provision of storm recovery financing; Revenues received pursuant to bonds.

This article reports that Florida became a American Automobile Association rated state on when Standard & Poor's Corp. upgraded more than $11 billion of outstanding general obligation debt from AA-plus. Standard & Poor's said its upgrade was based on the state's strong and conservative financial and budget management practices, coupled with substantial budget reserves and economic trends that have been among the strongest nationally. The rating applies to the state's uniquely structured, double-barreled General Obligations that have dedicated revenue streams backed by a full faith and credit pledge, which applies to state board of education capital outlay bonds, right of way acquisition and bridge construction bonds, and public education capital outlay bonds.

The article focuses on the Collier County in Florida, which will bring competitive deals totaling $210 million to the market in the first three weeks of 2005 and is poised to sell as much as $230 million of additional debt later in the years. The wealthy double, a rated county plans to sell $175 million of capital improvement and revenue refunding bonds secured by a half-cent sales tax on January 11, 2005, and approximately $35 million of limited general obligation bonds on January 18, 2004. MBIA Insurance Corp. is insuring the capital improvement and refunding bonds, while Ambac Assurance Corp. is insuring the limited general obligation bonds. Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson PA is bond counsel on both deals.

The article reports that voters in the Southeast this year approved spending nearly $1.2 billion, mostly from the sale of bonds, to protect land for open space, parks, recreation, greenways, watersheds and wildlife. Nearly half of the region's total, or $500.2 million, was approved in referendums throughout Florida in 2004, according to the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit land conservation organization. Voters approved $221.6 million in South Carolina, $149 million in Georgia, $145 million in Virginia, $112 million in North Carolina, and 021 $45 million in 1 Louisiana for conservation programs this year.

Reports on the impact of Hurricane Ivan on the possible application of additional assessments to insurance policies in Bradenton, Florida. Provision of insurance coverage for people who live in areas most vulnerable to hurricanes; Estimated amount of potential insured losses caused by the disaster; Security of the bonds by net revenues generated from operations at Pensacola Regional Airport.

Reports that two multi-family housing bond pool issues totaling $350 million by Capital Trust Agency, based in Gulf Breeze, Florida, violate the tax code's arbitrage regulations and could be declared taxable as of August 25, 2003. Reason for the declaration of bonds to be taxable; Investigation by Internal Revenue Service regarding these bonds; Companies to which these two bond issues were made.

Reports that Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a final report on the Pinellas Mobility Initiative that includes potential funding sources that could secure bonds a monorail system. Possibility of starting a federal funding for such projects; Funding resources for the county prior to the project's approval; Other sources of funding for the project.

Reports that pending lawsuits could affect the validity of the entity that plans to issue multi-million dollar bonds to purchase Florida Water Services Corp., according to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). Market conditions that could impact the sale price of bonds; Obstacles faced by the company in completing the sale; Order issued to the company by the PSC regarding transfer of its utilities.

Reports on the $1.25 million loss incurred by Miami City Commission and Salomon Smith Barney Company after renegotiating a delayed bond deal. Views of Robert Nachlinger of Miami on the delay in closure of the bond issue; Possible reason behind Salomon backing out of the deal; Discussion on the reorganization plans of the city government proposed by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

Reports the A-level upgrades won by health providers Adventist Health System and Bon Secours Health System for outstanding debt in Bradenton, Florida. Amount of the unsecured debt of the companies; Elimination of a split between rating agencies; Improvement in the prospects for the uninsured sale of revenue bonds.

Reports on Florida's bond program to help municipalities build spring training facilities to entice major league baseball teams to remain in or relocate to their communities. State funds to match local funds in support of bond issues; Applications from Clearwater, Indian River County, Dunedin, Lakeland, Osceola County and Charlotte County. INSET: Florida Forges Ahead in Stadium Financings.

Reports on Florida State University Schools Inc.'s issuance of lease-revenue bonds. Credit rating of the school; Structure of the bonds.

Reports that the State of Florida has urged the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to reject the bond documents Web republishing concept. State's concerns about securities fraud liability arising from republishing; Inability of municipal issuers to carry republishing burdens; Arguments by the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities against republishing.

Reports that United States senior housing group National Benevolent Association will sell five series of bonds in the second quarter of 2000. Total debt financing; Sale of the debts through the Jacksonville Health Facilities Authority and the Colorado Health Facilities Authority; Letter of credit from KBC Bank NV; Rating agencies.

Reports on the study focusing on negotiated and competitive municipal bond deals conducted in Florida as of January 13, 2000. Details of the bond issues made by Polk County and Brevard County, Florida; Market performance of the bond issues.

Cites an audit report released by Florida Auditor General Charles L. Lester showing that the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority was lax in supervising the investment and spending of proceeds from a 1996 revenue bond issue. Investment of the bonds in prohibited securities and other misuses; Authority's sale of bonds to pay for a toll bridge in Santa Rosa County, Florida.

Reports that the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and Florida plan to work together to test electronic dissemination of preliminary and final official statements using Adobe's Portable Document Format. Web site established to sell the state's municipal bonds; Florida agencies which are mulling bond flotations; United States Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

Reports on bond market trends in Florida as of April 2, 1998. Includes legislative proposal for the expansion of Florida's credit backing of its education bond program; Bond issues from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee; Related legislative proposals.

Reports that at the midpoint of the Florida Legislature's special session on school overcrowding, the two chambers haven't agreed on much except that fixing the state's $3.3 billion problem will take more than $1 billion of bonds. Filling the gap with certificates of participation (COP); Need for restricting district's spending to a statewide average; Formulas for dividing bond proceeds among Florida school districts. INSET: Southeast invisible supply..

Reports that the Florida Supreme Court approved a request by the Florida Catastrophe Fund Finance Corp. to issue as much as $10 billion of revenue bonds to cover damages in the event of a major hurricane. Concerns on the wipe out of private insurers' reserves and the fund's cash on hand; Background information on the catastrophe fund.

The article reports that three people have been indicted and a fourth person has pleaded guilty in Florida's Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority's scandal. It further states that suspended Expressway Authority board member Scott Batterson, former state Representatives Chris Dorworth, and Dorworth's girlfriend, Rebekah Hammond, were charged for violating a state law. It further presents the view of State Attorney Jeff Ashton.

The article informs that the board of Florida-based Citrus County Hospital and the Board of Directors of the Citrus Memorial Health Foundation notified their bondholders that they are negotiating with Hospital Corp. of America for the sale or lease of their hospital.

The article reports that the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the Fiddler's Creek Community Development District (CDD) allows bondholders to take the ownership of the bankrupt Town Center in Miami, Florida. It mentions that the bondholders won the undeveloped land at the bid of 67.5 million dollars. According to Andrew Sanford, chief investment officer (CIO) the Fiddler's bankruptcy through CDD board is trying to adjust the assessments and modifying bond repayments, against bondholder's wishes.

Statistics are presented on the ratings of obligation bonds till June 26, 2012 which are issued by several states including Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Statistics are presented on the amount of bonds issued by the several states including Alabama, Florida and Georgia.