Jim Watts

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson last week ordered an immediate halt to all new state road maintenance projects as part of his plan to avoid a $106 million revenue shortfall in fiscal 2010.

Arkansas general fund revenue in February was $365 million, almost $7 million less than expected and $31 million less than in February 2009. The drop is the 12th time in the last 15 months that revenue fell below the same month of the previous year.

The Phoenix City Council approved a budget-balancing plan for fiscal 2011 that calls for $64 million in reduced spending and the elimination of 520 city positions. The budget reductions take effect April 5 and last through June 2011.

DALLAS — Dallas will take as much as $330 million of general obligation debt to market next week after the City Council voted Wednesday to increase the refunding component to a maximum of $170 million.

DALLAS — Voters in the Tulsa County Independent School District No. 1 approved a $354 million general obligation bond package on Tuesday, the largest bond package ever sought by the district or any other school district in Oklahoma.

Commissioners in two Louisiana parishes voted this week to withdraw their approval of bond elections slated for May 1.

DALLAS — Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson said he may be forced to make additional cuts to the fiscal 2010 budget as revenue continues to fall faster than expected.

A recent report that said Oklahoma had the fastest rate of decline of tax collections in the nation is misleading, Treasurer Scott Meacham said last week.

Voters in the Oklahoma City suburb of Norman are going to the polls today to decide on a proposed $2.2 million general obligation bond proposal that would update and expand the city’s emergency warning system.

The Oklahoma Senate will this week consider several appropriations bills passed last week by the House that would balance the state’s budget for fiscal 2010.

Gilbert may not be able to issue $82 million of authorized but unissued general obligation debt due to plummeting property values in the Phoenix suburb.

Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin, who is a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, said last week that the state could avoid budget cuts and tax hikes over the next two fiscal years by consolidating and refinancing its $4.5 billion of debt.

DALLAS — The Arkansas General Assembly wrapped up its first-ever budget session on Wednesday as both chambers passed identical fiscal 2011 budget bills totaling $4.48 billion.

Gov. Bobby Jindal said in an address to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce last week that Louisiana’s economy would continue to outpace the region and the nation thanks to strong fiscal discipline.

New Orleans Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu said he would seek an extension of the Gulf Opportunity Zone bond program when he meets with Obama administration officials and congressional leaders this week in Washington.

DALLAS — Voters in the Dallas suburb of Richardson will decide on a four-part, $66 million general obligation bond proposal on May 8.

The San Antonio City Council has approved a plan by city-owned CPS Energy to issue up to $380 million of gas and electric revenue bonds.

Approval of a $354 million bond package for Tulsa County Independent School District No. 1 will continue a 20-year program that voters first endorsed in 1996, superintendent Keith Ballard said last week.

The Oklahoma Policy Institute said last week that ongoing budget woes present an opportunity to review the state’s extensive system of tax breaks.

The revenue outlook for Oklahoma is a little brighter than was expected in late 2009 due to rising energy prices that increase the collection of oil and gas severance taxes.