Jim Watts

The number of state boards and commissions in Louisiana has fallen to a total of 492 entities after peaking at 513 in 2004, legislative auditor Daryl Purpera said Aug. 20 in a report to lawmakers.

A rising bond market has resulted in increased debt sales across the board in 2012, with some sectors rising higher than others.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reduced its commercial liquidity exposure with Tuesday's negotiated sale of $151.4 million of highway revenue refunding bonds.

Trustees of Midland Independent School District, Texas will consider a long-range plan to build three new high schools designed to accommodate 2,100 students each.

The El Paso City put on the November ballot a plan to issue $468 million of general obligation bonds and to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% to finance a baseball stadium.

Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System voted last week to increase the contributions required of state and local governments for the fourth year in a row.

The Arizona Supreme Court said last week that a referendum on making permanent a temporary 1% state sales tax should go onto the November ballot.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery filed a brief last week in support of an effort to force a November referendum on Glendale, Ariz.’s 0.7% sales tax increase.

Louisiana State Bond Commission on Thursday approved a $40 million refunding of parking garage revenue debt at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

An impending refunding of parking garage debt is a sign that revitalization is a reality at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport as passenger levels increase to near pre-hurricane days at the city-owned airport.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission will review the first tranche from a new state bond program to finance rural road upgrades.

A sales tax extension going to voters in Tulsa County, Okla., Nov. 6 would generate $748.8 million over 13 years for economic development and capital improvement projects. The 0.6% sales tax would be extended through 2029.

Houston Community College System Trustees approved a $425 million bond referendum.

San Antonio police found no wrongdoing after investigating allegations against the firm that manages the bond program of Harlandale Independent School District.

The Austin City Council split 3 to 3 last week on whether to approve a general obligation bond referendum in November of $385 million or to ask for $400 million instead.

Revenues from a 1.5% sales tax in Del City, Okla., that is up for renewal on Aug. 28 would fund the demolition of an old police station in order to build a replacement fire station.

An Oklahoma school district will ask voters on Aug. 28 to authorize $12.7 million of general obligation bonds after a $49.5 million bond referendum failed.

Tempe, Ariz., brought in $81.9 million from the local sales tax in fiscal 2012, the first time annual sales tax revenues topped $80 million since fiscal 2007.

The Ector County, Texas, Independent School District is preparing a $129.8 million bond referendum for November. The district, which serves the city of Odessa, is experiencing population growth from oil and gas activity in the energy-rich Permian Basin.

El Paso will buy downtown office space with certificates of obligation as City Hall is demolished to make way for a new debt-financed minor league baseball stadium.