Jim Watts

The $12.2 billion two-year state budget proposed last week by Gov. Sam Brownback should result a 7.5% ending balance each year or about $450 million, he said.

The Arkansas Supreme Court turned down a request from the state to reconsider its November ruling that lets school districts keep excess property-tax revenue from a statewide tax.

Little Rock will save $2 million a year in debt service with a refunding of $24.7 million of airport revenue bonds from 1999 that financed projects at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback wants lawmakers to extend a temporary sales tax so the state's income tax rate can be slashed without loss of revenue.

Louisiana will upgrade more than 1,000 miles of state rural roads in 63 parishes with next week’s sale of $249.2 million of highway improvement bonds.

Austin Independent School District may ask voters to decide in May for $889.9 million of GO bond authorization to finance a capital plan that focuses on enrollment growth.

Bills filed last week by a key lawmaker would take $2 billion from the state’s $8.8 billion Rainy Day Fund to finance a revolving bond program for local water supply efforts.

Sales tax revenues in December totaled $2.17 billion, Comptroller Susan Combs said last week, with growth in construction and manufacturing.

The Kansas Chamber wants a cut in state corporate income taxes from the 2013 legislative, CEO and former House Speaker Mike O’Neal said last week.

Kansas Legislature must increase state aid to local schools after a Shawnee County District Court said the current level is unconstitutionally low.

The Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission said last week it would support a bond issue of up to $65 million to renovate the city’s aging music hall.

A proposed $500 million freeway in northern Pulaski County could be funded through tolls under a plan being studied by the state and the regional planning authority.

DALLAS -- Tuesday's $346 million negotiated refunding by the Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District is the final stage in the post-Katrina process to restore its financial viability.

DALLAS – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will propose a revised tax code that replaces billions of dollars from state income and business taxes with a higher sales tax when the Legislature convenes April 8.

El Paso, Texas, will file a bond validation lawsuit in state district court seeking an OK for its plans to issue $50.4 million of bonds for a downtown baseball stadium.

The Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District's upcoming $343.3 million refunding for the Superdome for the Superdome has been rated A by Fitch Ratings and A3 by Moody's Investors Service.

Local school districts in Texas need another $1 billion from the state to pay their bills, said Shirley Beaulieu, CFO for the Texas Education Agency.

Judson ISD is asking voters to approve an $83 million bond package on May 11 to help relieve congestion with the construction of two schools.

The 7,000 registered voters in Oklahoma’s Canadian County ISD No. 34 are deciding Tuesday, Jan. 8 on a $44.8 million bond issue after a similar measure was defeated last year.

Students in Oklahoma County ISD No. 1 will swap textbooks for iPad computer tablets if voters approve a $6 million bond issue at the Feb. 12 election.