Jim Watts

DALLAS - The Spring Branch Independent School District in Texas will continue its 10-year capital improvement program with proceeds from Tuesday's competitive sale of $75 million of general obligation bonds.

Texas Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, told a 10-member committee established to lay the groundwork for building a medical school in Austin that it is too early to know how much the proposal will cost.

Texas sales tax revenues of $1.87 billion in October were up almost 16% from October 2010 collections, Comptroller Susan Combs said last week.

The Oklahoma County Independent School District 12 extended its streak of successful bond elections to 54 with last week’s approval of a $35.5 million request.

This week’s sale of $55 million of 20-year revenue bonds by Kansas Development Finance Authority is expected to be the last debt issued for renovation of the Kansas state capitol in Topeka.

North Little Rock voters last week turned down Mayor Patrick Hays’ proposals to increase the sales tax rate by 1% to provide more funds for operations and capital improvements.

A constitutional amendment to extend a $575 million Garvee road bond program won by a sizeable majority in all 75 Arkansas counties in last week’s special election.

Alabama issuers should not see their ratings lowered by the Jefferson County bankruptcy action, but investor perception could take its toll on future issues.

Moody’s Investors Service last week placed $699 million of New Orleans’ municipal debt on review for possible downgrades due to “deteriorated financial performance.”

DALLAS - Garland County, Ark., will build a new jail in Hot Springs with proceeds from $42 million of sales tax bonds going to market next week.

Oklahoma County Independent School District 12 will renovate buildings and build a new elementary school if voters today approve a $33.5 million general obligation bond measure.

Kansas’s official Consensus Revenue Estimating Group adopted a revised forecast last week that raised expectations for collections in fiscal 2012 by $199 million. The increase to $6.25 billion is up 11% from fiscal 2011 collections.

State receipts in October were $4 million less than expected, but the sag was caused by a large, unexpected income tax refund from previous years, the Kansas Department of Revenue said last week.

General revenue collections in October of $457.5 million were $23.4 million more than in October 2010, but Arkansas’ chief financial officer said the state’s economy is recovering slowly.

Trustees of the Scottsdale Cultural Council last week heard plans for a $10.5 million bond proposal that the art group plans to take to the Scottsdale City Council in March 2012.

DALLAS - Improved revenue collections indicate Oklahoma's years of budget shortfalls are history, Treasurer Ken Miller said Thursday in announcing the 20th consecutive month of revenue increases.

DALLAS - A vacant, hurricane-damaged residential tower in New Orleans will be rehabilitated with proceeds from Wednesday's negotiated sale of $7.4 million of multifamily revenue bonds issued by Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission will consider a plan Nov. 17 to refinance some of New Orleans’ debt so the city can push into 2013 a total of $15.5 million of debt service now due in 2012.

DALLAS - Arkansas will be able to repair and upgrade more than 400 miles of Interstate highway with proceeds from $575 million of Garvee bonds being decided by voters on Tuesday, up from earlier estimates of 300 miles.

The Pasadena Independent School District is seeking approval from voters next week for $270.1 million of general obligation bonds to finance new facilities needed to accommodate the Houston-area district’s rapid growth.