Jim Watts

A significant drop in sales tax revenue may require Phoenix to reduce its bus system’s $171 million annual operating budget by $16 million in fiscal 2011 to avoid an operating fund deficit.

DALLAS — Rising enrollment resulting from rapid growth in the northern suburbs of Oklahoma City is the primary driver in the request by the Oklahoma County Independent School District No. 6 for $142.1 million of general obligation bonds.

Louisiana has opted for binding arbitration to resolve its dispute over the replacement value for Charity Hospital in New Orleans, wich was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

DALLAS — Arkansas state revenues fell significantly below expected levels in September, as the state posted its largest monthly year-to-year revenue decline in 20 years.

CPS Energy officials said they will ask the San Antonio City Council next week to approve the sale of $400 million of revenue bonds to finance the municipal utility’s portion of a nuclear power plant in South Texas.

Scott County voters have approved $24 million of bonds to build a new 24-bed hospital in Scott City to replace a 56-year-old facility.

Kansas collected $468 million in tax revenue in September, down $67 million or 12.5% from the $535 million it expected.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., last week submitted to the state its official request to use $173.3 million of sales tax revenue pledged to the support of existing, outstanding STAR bonds to help finance a $414 million development that includes an 18,500-seat soccer stadium.

Trustees of the War Memorial Stadium Commission have approved $4 million of revenue bonds to help finance a new $7.3 million press box at the football stadium in Little Rock. The debt will be supported by revenue from rent, stadium advertising, concessions, and parking fees.

Arizona general fund tax collections fell again in August, resulting in a prediction by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee of a $1.5 billion budget gap in fiscal 2010. August was the 13th month in a row of double-digit revenue declines.

DALLAS — The East Baton Rouge Parish, La., Metro Council will meet next week in a special session to debate rescinding its decision to set a November election date for a proposed $900.8 million bond package.

Louisiana has collected $15 million from the first month of a state tax amnesty program that began Sept. 1 and extends through Oct. 31.

DALLAS — A new report predicts a slower than expected economic recovery in Kansas unless the state can find additional revenues to finance its next 10-year transportation plan.

DALLAS - A legal dispute over a riverside parcel of land in downtown Baton Rouge should not deter voters from approving bonds that would finance a large tourist attraction planned for the site, East Baton Rouge Parish officials said Monday.

DALLAS - Texas voters will decide in November on a state constitutional amendment that would reauthorize $2 billion in tax-exempt general obligation bonds for the state's land and housing loan programs for military veterans.

Revenues from liquor sales in Utah totaled $100 million for state and local governments in fiscal 2009, up by $2 million from fiscal 2008 and $20 million more than in fiscal 2006.

A new legislative report said a statewide initiative on the November 2010 ballot seeking to increase funding for public education would require a 40% increase in Oklahoma’s income tax or sales tax rate, or across-the-board budget cuts for state agencies.

The head of the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance said last week that options for providing at least $200 million of new money each year to the Highway and Transportation Department are becoming clearer.

Trustees of the Maricopa County Unified School District 69 are asking voters to renew a budget override on Nov. 3 that would restore the full $5 million per year in property tax revenue the override previously has provided to the Paradise Valley district.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last week released $9 million of federal stimulus funds to community college districts, with another $20 million to come when the governing boards vote to accept the money.