Jim Watts

Oklahoma will transfer $219 million into its rainy-day fund, which had dropped to a mere $2.03 — the largest deposit into the reserve fund since the end of fiscal 2005.

Commissioners of Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City next week will consider a proposal to increase the property tax rate by 8.9% to generate $117.5 million for the city and $4.9 million for county operations.

The Kansas State Board of Education will ask lawmakers next year to fund state aid to local school districts at the full $4,492 per-student stipend as required by current state law.

The Arkansas lottery generated $94.2 million for scholarships at state colleges and universities from sales of $465 million in fiscal 2011, up from $82 million of earnings and $383 million of sales in fiscal 2010.

Little Rock city directors voted last week to put a 1% sales-tax rate increase on the Sept. 13 ballot to finance capital improvements and various city operations.

DALLAS - The board overseeing the construction of a proposed $1.2 billion state hospital in New Orleans decided Wednesday to take another look at the proposed financing.

DALLAS - Voters in East Baton Rouge Parish, La., may have the opportunity in November to decide on a $748.5 million capital improvement plan that would include $716 million of bonds to finance projects in the city of Baton Rouge and throughout the parish.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted unanimously last week to seek voluntary legal help in contesting the constitutionality of the legislative transfer of $26.4 million into the state’s general fund from a fund the commission oversees.

Voters in Lafayette Parish will decide Oct. 22 on a proposed 20-year, $561 million general obligation bond issue to fund new schools and upgrade facilities.

Members of a committee evaluating Travis County's proposed $638 million wish-list of bond projects have reduced the cost to $200 million as they work their way to the target of $150 million set by county finance officials.

State revenues in June topped $1 billion, Oklahoma Treasurer Ken Miller announced last week, up $134.5 million from June 2010.

The Kansas State Finance Commission has approved the budget office's request for a $600 million certificate of indebtedness for the 13th year in a row.

Arkansas ended fiscal 2011 with an extra $93.9 million in its accounts, the first surplus in the last three fiscal years.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said the city will seek a 1% increase in the sales tax rate in a September election rather than the 1.25% that had been proposed.

DALLAS — The board set up to finance and operate a new state teaching hospital in New Orleans has withdrawn its request for federal enhancement of revenue bonds needed to build the $1.2 billion University Medical Center.

DALLAS — A Jefferson County, Ala., circuit judge on Friday gave total control over all finances of the county's sewer utility to the court-appointed receiver of the system, which is in default on more than $3 billion of revenue debt.

Shreveport, La., has scheduled the single largest bond issue in the city's history. Next week's sale of $81.5 million of general obligation debt will be the first tranche from a $175 million bond authorization.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will call a statewide election on a proposal to renew the state's existing $575 million Garvee road bond program.

Provisions in SB 1, passed by the Texas Legislature in the final days of June’s special session, will require publication of more timely information on the state of the state’s finances.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has entered the probe into questionable payments by Harris County to two brokers involved in county investment transactions.