Jim Watts

The budget bill sent to Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson last week contains $92 million in spending cuts for fiscal 2010 that may not be sufficient to balance the budget before the state’s fiscal year ends June 30.

The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office said last week that residential property values in the county, which includes Phoenix, fell 15.2% in 2009. The median home value fell to $131,700 from $155,300 in 2008.

Louisiana will refund up to $240 million of outstanding general obligation debt under a proposal approved Thursday by the State Bond Commission.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Friday unveiled a $24.2 billion operating budget for fiscal 2011 that is $5.5 billion less than the state spent in fiscal 2010.

DALLAS — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday said it would reject a request from a coalition of school districts to reopen a lawsuit that led to increased state support of public education.

Trustees of the Northside Independent School District last week set a May 8 election on a $535 million bond package that would build six new schools and upgrade district facilities.

Trustees of the Austin Independent School District will decide next week whether to declare that the district faces a financial crisis with a $7.1 million shortfall. That would allow superintendent Meria Carstarphen to cut jobs.

Oklahoma benefited in January from higher-than-expected oil and gas severance-tax collections, but total revenue continued to fall below expectations.

A study by the Kansas Legislative Post Audit Committee found that the state could save $15 million to $129 million a year by consolidating small school districts, closing facilities, and reducing staffing levels.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe opened the legislature’s first fiscal session last week with a plea for quick action on the state’s $4.5 billion general fund budget for fiscal 2011.

Fees levied by special business districts on Arizona state university land could be used to support bonds for athletic facilities under a bill introduced by Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Gilbert.

DALLAS — Arguments got under way Wednesday in a New Orleans federal district court in an effort by historic preservationists to derail construction of a bond-financed state hospital in the city.

Louisiana Lieut. Gov. Mitch Landrieu will be sworn in as mayor of New Orleans on May 6.

DALLAS — The Kansas Development Finance Authority will go to market today with the first sale from a $105 million state authorization that will partially finance a federally operated biohazard research facility, as Moody’s Investors Service lowered its outlook on the state to negative from stable.

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry said last week he will ask the Legislature to expand the constitutional limit on the state’s budget stabilization fund to 15% of general fund revenues from the current level of 10%.

Kansas delayed the latest portion of the scheduled aid payment to 295 local school districts for the fourth consecutive month in response to sluggish tax collections.

Arkansas revenue came in higher than expected in January for the first time since May 2009, with gross receipts of $523 million.

The Scottsdale City Council will receive a report next week that is expected to recommend a November election on a bond measure that would finance new tourism facilities in the city.

A new 2% sales tax on grocery items will be levied in Phoenix beginning April 1 following approval last week by the City Council. The tax is scheduled to expire in five years.

Arizona residents will go to the polls May 18 to decide on a temporary 1% increase in the state sales tax. The Senate narrowly approved the election on a 16-to-12 vote last week, and the House subsequently passed by a margin of 34 to 25.