Jim Watts

Kansas Senate leaders have reduced to $34 million the amount of bonds being sought for continuing restoration efforts at the state capitol.

DALLAS — Louisiana lawmakers will consider a resolution this week to require legislative approval of a plan to issue revenue bonds to finance a proposed new state hospital in New Orleans.

DALLAS — The Texas Senate approved a two-year state budget Wednesday on a straight 19-12 party-line vote after Republican leaders outflanked Democratic opposition to considering the $176.5 billion spending plan.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s raised its rating Wednesday on Louisiana’s general obligation debt to AA from AA-minus due to the state’s willingness to resolve structural issues in its budget.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s raised its rating Wednesday on Louisiana’s general obligation debt to AA from AA-minus due to the state’s willingness to resolve structural issues in its budget.

DALLAS — The Louisiana House Appropriations Committee declined Monday to give the go-ahead for construction of a $1.2 billion state hospital in New Orleans until a more complete business plan is developed.

Utah Lawmakers will return to Salt Lake City this week to consider overriding Gov. Gary Herbert’s veto of a plan to earmark a large portion of new sales-tax revenue to state road projects.

Property values in Harris County, including Houston, are expected to decline by 1.1% to a total of $270.2 billion, the Harris County Appraisal District said last week.

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an Aa2 underlying rating to $11 million of general obligation bonds to be issued this month by Oklahoma County Independent School District No. 89.

State general fund tax collections topped $722 million in April, up from the $710 million expected, the Kansas Department of Revenue said last week.

The University of Arkansas will renovate six residential facilities and rebuild a fire-damaged fraternity house with $28.2 million of bonds approved last month by UA trustees.

Scott McCarty, chief financial officer for Surprise and a former candidate for the city manager post there, said last week he has wrongfully identified himself as a certified public accountant while working for Surprise and the city of Scottsdale.

DALLAS — The Texas Senate’s $176.5 billion budget bill remained stalled in legislative limbo Friday over resistance to proposed revenue increases and continuing calls to tap into the state’s $9 billion rainy-day fund.

DALLAS — Tolls on twin state bridges across the Mississippi River in New Orleans should be allowed to expire next year with the final payment on the bonds that financed the spans, an advocacy group argues.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said last week he would oppose a legislative effort to renew a 4 cent per-pack tax on cigarettes that is due to expire next year.

The Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association has called for an increase in the state tax on gasoline to fund the construction of more roads.

DALLAS — Gov. Bobby Jindal reiterated his stance against new taxes to balance Louisiana’s fiscal 2012 budget Monday at the opening of the regular legislative session.

Travis County commissioners last week decided to seek proposals from private developers interested in working with officials to build a new county civil courthouse in downtown Austin.

Indian tribes with gambling operations in Oklahoma paid $118 million in taxes and fees to the state in 2010, up from $105 million generated in 2009 and $14.2 million in 2006.

Trustees of Oklahoma County Independent School District 89 last week approved the sale of $11 million of general obligation bonds to purchase new school buses and improved technology.