Jim Watts

Kathryn V. Garner has joined Haynes and Boone LLP as a partner and public finance specialist.

Oklahoma state revenues of $1.16 billion in April were $83 million more than in April 2011 despite a slide in oil and gas production tax collections.

A Kansas legislative conference committee adopted a compromise tax-cutting plan designed to avoid large budget gaps in the future.

Arkansas’ April revenues of $588.9 million were boosted by better than predicted collections from sales and income taxes.

DALLAS — The largest business association in Texas on Wednesday intervened in one of a cluster of lawsuits seeking to overturn the state’s public school funding system.

DALLAS — The Louisiana House Appropriations Committee late Tuesday passed a $25 billion budget for fiscal 2013, but had to balance the spending with $340 million of one-time money and cuts to services.

Trustees of the French Quarter Management District voted last week to oppose a legislative effort to establish a hospitality district encompassing the New Orleans neighborhood with the authority to issue bonds and create sub-districts for projects funded with tax-increment financing.

DALLAS — Louisiana spent $72 million over 14 years on a failed syrup mill while receiving only scant returns from its investment, including $45 million of revenue bonds issued in 2004 by the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority.

DALLAS — A continuing decline in severance tax revenues caused by low natural gas prices will not blow a hole in Oklahoma’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget, Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said Friday.

The citizens bond committee reviewing projects for inclusion in Austin’s general obligation bond election has cut the total proposal to $659 million from a potential $1.5 billion.

A total of $52.7 billion of Texas public school district general obligation bonds were covered by the Permanent School Fund bond guarantee program as of Aug. 31, 2011. Unused capacity totaled $18 billion.

Trustees of Pulaski Technical College voted last week to delay a property tax election until the measure can be the only tax item on the ballot.

The popular titles of two bond-related Arkansas constitutional amendments to be decided at November’s general election were approved last week by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.

The Glendale, Ariz., City Council is considering options for raising the city’s sales tax and property tax rates to cover an anticipated $35 million revenue shortfall in fiscal 2013.

The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District is asking Louisiana lawmakers for $60 million of capital construction funding over two years for upgrades required under a new agreement between the state and the New Orleans Hornets basketball team.

Louisiana State University supervisors will consider a request Friday for $100 million of revenue bonds to add seats at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

DALLAS — A revised revenue outlook will require Louisiana to cut spending by $210.5 million through June and reduces the money available for lawmakers to appropriate in fiscal 2013 by almost $304 million.

Louisiana will refund up to $850 million of gasoline and fuels tax revenue bonds May 1 in a negotiated sale as officials strive to take advantage of current low interest rates.

El Paso County, Texas, commissioners last week approved George K. Baum & Co. as the replacement for Coastal Securities as the county’s financial advisor in a 3-to-2 vote.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin asked for an audit last week of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum after three lawmakers opposed to a state bond issue for the facility called for the oversight.