Jim Watts

A top aide to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback outlined a new school finance plan last week that he said would increase funding for about half of the 283 school districts in the state without harming the others,

Opponents of a city subsidy for a hotel in downtown Wichita, Kan., have apparently amassed enough petition signatures to force a citywide vote on the proposed project.

The Arkansas Department of Highways and Transportation will focus initially on improving traffic flow along Interstate 30 if voters approve $1.3 billion of general obligation bonds for roadwork next year.

Louisiana State Bond Commission approved a $400 million state general obligation bond issue in 2012, along with a GO refunding tranche of up to $49 million.

A third lawsuit seeking to overturn Texas' system for financing public education was filed Tuesday in a Travis County state district court in Austin.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency last week awarded more than $52 million of new funding to New Orleans to repair neighborhood streets in areas of the city most severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Texas state sales tax collections in November totaled $2.07 billion, up 12.2% from November 2010, and the 20th consecutive month of increased revenues.

Irving will make an unofficial commitment this week of $170 million of revenue bonds to help pay for a proposed entertainment complex despite warnings that the new debt could affect the Dallas suburb’s bond rating.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation got the go-ahead last week from the Council of Bond Oversight for a $71 million debt issue to finance four highway projects.

Kansas state Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, said she will recommend an early end to most of a 1% hike in the sales tax approved in 2010.

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System is unlikely to eliminate its $4.4 billion of unfunded liabilities over the next 30 years at the current return from the system’s investments, according to actuaries

Trustees of Central Arkansas Water last week approved an $18.2 million revenue bond issue that is expected to go to market in early January.

The New Orleans City Council last week adopted a $496.7 million operating budget for 2012 that keeps the city’s property tax rate unchanged despite an increase in assessed valuations this year.

The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority will receive $900 million in federal grants under agreements signed last week by Peter Rogoff, director of the Federal Transit Administration, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

The upward trend of Oklahoma’s economy should continue into the holiday season, Treasurer Ken Miller said last week at the release of the monthly tax receipts report.

Economist Arthur Laffer, famous for his Laffer Curve that promises economic growth from low tax rates, told a civic club summit last week that he supports proposals to eliminate Oklahoma’s personal income tax over 10 years.

The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority is lining up supporters in its quest for a $25 million federal grant to create a hub at Topeka’s airport that would include local and interstate bus operations, a shuttle, and rail service.

Investments held by the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System currently are valued at $967 million after dropping to $919 million as of Sept. 30.

The Central Arkansas Library System plans a March 2012 election to renew an existing bond program that will include a property tax decrease.

DALLAS — Arkansas tax collections are expected to be 3.5% higher in fiscal 2013 than in fiscal 2012, but Gov. Mike Beebe has told state agencies not to expect more money next year.