Jim Watts

The Kansas chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses said last week it was "shocked and disappointed" at a city's imposition of a transportation utility fee on property owners based on how much traffic the property generates.

Arkansas' joint adequacy evaluation oversight subcommittee has proposed a 2.5% increase in state funding for local school districts in fiscal 2012 and another 2.9% hike in fiscal 2013.

The Chicago Cubs will campaign strenuously in favor of a financial package to keep the team's spring training operations at its long-time home of Mesa. A vote on the proposal is set for the general election on Nov. 2.

Andrei Cherny, the Democratic candidate for Arizona treasurer, said if elected he would use the office's authority to audit government spending from the Legislature down to the local level.

Preliminary budget numbers for fiscal 2012 outlined for the Scottsdale's budget review commission last week indicate the city may be facing a $28.4 million revenue shortfall.

DALLAS — The Katy Independent School District in Texas is seeking voter approval of a $459.7 million general obligation bond package that would finance construction of five new schools to accommodate its rapidly growing enrollment.

DALLAS — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will make a $1.8 billion lump-sum payment to public school districts in Orleans Parish to rebuild or replace facilities damaged five years ago by Hurricane Katrina. The parish has the same boundaries as the city of New Orleans.

DALLAS — The Lubbock Independent School District will embark on a four-phase capital improvement program if voters approve a $198 million bond program developed by a citizens’ committee.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said renovation efforts will begin soon on a storm-damaged hospital purchased late last week by the city for $16.3 million.

DALLAS — The Judson Independent School District in Texas will allow voters on Nov. 2 to choose among separate components of a $198.8 million general obligation bond package.

U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, the Republican candidate for governor of Oklahoma, said last week that she favors an eventual elimination of the state corporate and personal income taxes.

The 30 Indian tribes that operate casinos in Oklahoma paid the state a record $118.2 million in gaming fees in fiscal 2010.

Voters in the Logan County Independent School District are deciding today on a proposed $89.8 million lease-revenue bond program.

Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System voted last week to increase its cost to the state and local governments by $15 million a year to recoup significant investment losses in fiscal 2009.

A Pinal County group is seeking to recall District 2 Supervisor Bryan Martyn over his approval last month of a $33.5 million county bond issue.

Three straight years of job losses has brought employment in Arizona to numbers not seen since 2004, the state Department of Commerce said last week.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission on Tuesday reserved $600 million of Gulf Opportunity Zone private-activity bonds for an unidentified manufacturing project in the southern part of the state.

State revenues are beginning to increase after more than a year in the doldrums, officials told the Texas House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday, but are still coming in shy of estimates in the current two-year budget due partly to lethargic residential construction.

New Orleans has only $1.2 billion available to finance $1.5 billion of recovery projects announced in 2009 by former Mayor Ray Nagin, city officials said last week.

Sales and vehicle tax revenue in East Baton Rouge Parish fell 4% in June from last year, continuing a string of skimpy collections since the start of 2010.