Jim Watts

Lafayette will refund $29.3 million of public improvement sales tax bonds in an upcoming negotiated sale to obtain $1 million of savings, or 3.5% of refunded principal, with no extension of maturity.

The Louisiana Baptist Convention decided last week to withdraw its support for increasing the state tax on cigarettes to focus on what it said were more important social issues such as abortion and child-care regulations.

DALLAS — The Texas Senate’s chief budget writer said Monday there is little enthusiasm among his colleagues for the $164.5 billion, two-year budget the House passed late Sunday.

Trustees of the College of the Mainland Community College District set an election for May 14 on $86 million of general obligation bonds after rejecting a suggestion to delay the vote until November.

The Kansas Senate has almost unanimously adopted a state budget for fiscal 2012 with total spending of $14 billion. Three senators voted against the budget measure, which includes $6 billion of spending from state general fund revenues.

Arkansas voters will decide in November 2012 on two bond-related constitutional amendments the General Assembly placed on the ballot last week. Lawmakers can put three amendments to voters every two years, but opted only for the two bond proposals.

DALLAS — The Texas House balanced the current biennial budget on Thursday with $3.1 billion from the $9.4 billion rainy-day fund and $853.6 million of spending cuts for state agencies and higher education.

DALLAS — Proponents of expanded gambling in Texas told lawmakers Tuesday that casino gambling and slot machines at existing horse tracks could generate more than $1 billion a year in state taxes.

A 21-member citizens oversight committee has decided to ask voters to levy a property tax to fund the replacement of two high schools, add classrooms to overcrowded schools, and repair aging facilities in Lafayette Parish.

DALLAS — Arkansas’ $4.6 billion fiscal 2012 budget unveiled by the Joint Budget Committee on Monday increases appropriations for public education and penitentiaries, but keeps other state spending at or below fiscal 2011 levels.

DALLAS — Voters in Texas face a light load of school bond requests at the polls on May 14 as districts across the state focus on belt-tightening instead of capital projects.

Travis County may establish a tax increment financing district to build roads and other public infrastructure serving the 3.4-mile Formula One Grand Prix racetrack being built outside Austin.

Oklahoma agencies may see their budgets cut next year by 7% or more rather than the less-severe cuts sought earlier as lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin continue to negotiate the fiscal 2012 budget.

The Arkansas Senate approved a ­measure last week that would allow the governor to put a 5-cent per gallon ­increase in state gasoline taxes on a statewide ­ballot.

The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board will hear April 15 a request from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville for a $132.3 million revenue bond package to finance projects at the main campus.

Trustees of the Central Arkansas Library System last week approved a plan to set an election on a proposed $32 million revenue bond issue.

DALLAS — The $164.5 billion state budget adopted last week by a Texas House committee could cost the state more than 335,000 jobs over the next two years, according to an economic impact report from the Legislative Budget Board.

DALLAS — The Texas House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday adopted a $164.5 billion, two-year operating budget that reduces spending by $22.9 billion from the current biennium.

DALLAS — Retail and institutional investors alike were attracted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s negotiated $142.9 million revenue bond sale on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fitch Ratings last week removed the negative rating watch on $99 million of revenue bonds that financed public improvement projects in Bossier City. The outlook is now stable.