Jim Watts

DALLAS - The New Orleans Aviation Board can begin the process of seeking bids for a long-term lease on Louis Armstrong International Airport following initial federal approval of the proposal to turn the city-owned facility into the first privately operated major passenger airport in the United States.

The West Feliciana Parish Police Jury, La., has released a $22.5 million list of infrastructure projects that would be financed by $30 million of bonds supported by a 1% sales tax increase to be decided on by voters at a special election Nov. 14. Proceeds would be allocated to road, drinking water, and sewer projects.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal last week asked two commissions studying state spending to find almost $1 billion in state budget cuts.

DALLAS - The Tyler Junior College District will upgrade and repair critical infrastructure and existing facilities at its campuses in the East Texas city of Tyler with proceeds from today's competitive sale of $24.5 million of 10-year maintenance tax notes.

Broken Arrow officials said they will form a committee to consider the future of a proposed hotel-conference center in the Tulsa suburb after voters last month turned down an $8 million bond proposal for the facility. A separate $8 million bond proposal, to convert a military reserve center into a public safety complex, was also rejected.

The Oklahoma City Council is expected to vote today to put on the Dec. 8 ballot a proposal to extend for seven years and nine months a temporary 1% sales tax set to expire in April 2010.

Trustees and administration officials of the Tulsa County Independent School District No. 1 are putting together a committee to develop a bond project list in anticipation of a school bond election in early 2010.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, has appointed himself to the state’s Special Committee on Transportation, which will focus on finding ways to finance Kansas’ next 10-year transportation plan.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community will use a U.S. stimulus loan program rather than bonds to provide part of the financing for a $100 million baseball spring training facility near Scottsdale.

Officials in Chandler said the Phoenix suburb may need a bond program within the next five years to keep up with street upkeep expenses that are expected to almost double by 2014.

DALLAS — The Louisiana State Bond Commission has approved a two-tranche, $324.8 million sale of state general obligation bonds for Oct. 27.

DALLAS - Oklahoma extended a 5% reduction in state agency spending through September as tax revenues continue an eight-month slide.

New Orleans hopes to generate at least $5 million in revenue from businesses with a sales tax amnesty program that will begin Oct. 1 and extend through Dec. 4.

The Ascension Parish-Wide School District would upgrade 20 schools with the proceeds from a $100 million bond issue going to voters on Oct. 17.

DALLAS — Tulsa, Okla., will finance the next 12 months of its five-year street improvement program with the proceeds from Thursday’s competitive sale of $70 million of general obligation bonds.