Jim Watts

DALLAS — The dire revenue outlook for Kansas eased somewhat on Monday as the Department of Revenue reported higher-than-expected general fund collections.

The San Antonio Independent School District released a public opinion survey last week that showed support for a bond issue for capital improvements of as much as $400 million.

A question on the November ballot that would raise state funding for public education was denounced at a capitol news conference last week by a group opposed to the effort.

Gov. Mark Parkinson repeated his calls to use new taxes, not budget cuts, to solve Kansas’ financial problems as lawmakers recessed last week for a month without passing a budget for fiscal 2011.

The Kansas Senate Transportation Committee has approved a proposed $8.2 billion, 10-year transportation program that includes $1.7 billion of bonding capacity for highways, rail, aviation, and mass transit efforts.

A study released last week by the Arizona Department of Transportation said the state’s 83 public airports would need $9.7 billion over the next 20 years to meet the demand for aviation services.

Pima County will have to rely next year and beyond on its general fund for debt service on bonds used to build Tucson Electric Park after the Arizona Diamondbacks completed their final spring training at the facility last week. The team will move its spring training operations to a new stadium near Scottsdale in 2011.

DALLAS — The largest business lobby in Louisiana will fight Gov. Bobby Jindal’s efforts to loosen constraints on two constitutionally protected state funds.

Louisiana’s tight budget outlook provides an opportunity to reform and streamline state government, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Monday in his opening message to the 2010 Legislature.

DALLAS —The Louisiana Legislature convened Monday for a three-month session that will focus on how to deal with a projected revenue decline of $1.7 billion in fiscal 2011 that could grow larger.

Texas Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, said last week that the state must find a way to finance highway projects, including an increase in the gasoline tax.

The Oklahoma Municipal League held a rally at the state capitol last week to urge lawmakers to reject a repeal of the sales tax on groceries. The group represents 464 towns and cities.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson last week vetoed a partial re-imposition of the state sales tax on groceries, while signing budget bills that are expected to generate $170 million a year in new tax revenue.

Organizers of the Fiesta Bowl have asked Glendale to refund $600,000 for what it said was three years of overpayment of taxes on tickets at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Flagstaff’s bond advisory committee is holding informal meetings this week to get public input on the panel’s proposal for $77 million of bonds to finance several projects.

The Arizona Senate voted last week to impose a state tax on medicinal marijuana if the drug is ever legalized in the state.

DALLAS — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday ordered state agencies and departments under his control to halt nonessential spending in light of a looming revenue shortfall in fiscal 2010.

DALLAS — Louisiana’s 14 state colleges and universities were advised at a legislative budget hearing on Tuesday to begin preparing now for a loss of almost $300 million in federal stimulus funds after fiscal 2011.

It is still early in Baton Rouge’s fiscal year, but parish officials warned the Metropolitan Council last week that revenues are in the doldrums.

The 11-member board that will have the final say on the plan to issue $400 million of revenue bonds to build Louisiana’s new $1.2 billion, 462-bed teaching hospital in New Orleans got its first permanent member this week.