Richard Williamson

In his first state-of-the-state address Gov. Doug Ducey promised to work with legislators to cover a $1 billion budget deficit but said he was "not persuaded by appeals to raise taxes so we can spend more."

Utah should have $14 billion to apply to its fiscal year 2016 budget, according to Gov. Gary Herbert. That represents a 5.3% increase from the current spending plan.

Local governments and school districts in the major oil and gas producing regions of Texas could suffer economically if the price of crude remains at its current lows, according to Fitch Ratings.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez proposed a $6.29 billion budget that would increase spending by 2.3% in the coming fiscal year.

Texas' new leaders will have more money to work with as the 2015 Legislature begins work on the state's next budget. The higher official revenue projections come even as the slumping price of oil casts a shadow over the Lone Star State's economy.

Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook to stable from negative on Glendale, Ariz.'s BBB-plus credit general obligation rating as the Phoenix suburb prepares to issue $294 million of refunding bonds.

With the state House and Senate controlled by different parties, the Colorado General Assembly has begun the process of dividing up an estimated $1.05 billion of additional revenue for the next fiscal year.

The University of Colorado will bring $89.3 million of refunding bonds to market as opportunities for interest-rate savings continue.

Texas' new comptroller, Glenn Hegar, started his term on a positive note, reporting a 4.3% increase in sales tax revenue.

In the opening session of the Oklahoma Legislature, House Speaker Jeff Hickman calls for sacrifice from state employees and recipients of state services as revenue falls 4.1%.

Arkansas collected $482.8 million in tax revenue for the month of December, which was 2.3% higher than the same month last year and 4.2% above the forecast, officials said.

The San Antonio-based Frost Bank public finance team will expand into the Houston area with the hiring of former BOSC Inc. managing director Ryan O'Hara.

Tulsa Public Schools are planning to ask voters for one of the largest bond issues in Oklahoma history at $415 million.

Thirty-six Republican Arizona legislators should be allowed to challenge the constitutionality of a measure to expand Medicaid eligibility even though it won legislative approval, the state Supreme Court ruled.

Already struggling to erase a $715 million deficit over the current and coming fiscal years, Kansas lawmakers face a costly court ruling that could require them to add more than $500 million to school funding.

Texas A&M University is looking for strong demand and low interest rates to continue in the new year as it brings a $377 million refunding deal to market.

The Texas Department of Transportation is investing in transportation projects along its 367-mile coast in anticipation of increased trade through an expanded Panama Canal and exports of natural gas amid mixed economic indicators.

Taking the oath of office just 11 days before the opening of the 84th Texas Legislature, Comptroller Glenn Hegar promised to provide a “clear revenue estimate” as the basis of the state's budget.

Nine years after the last tuition revenue bonds were approved by the Texas Legislature, a bill pre-filed for the 2015 session seeks $2.86 billion of TRBs for construction projects at the state's college and university systems.

A year after the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down legislation authorizing $120 million for repairs to the state Capitol, the first bond issue of $50 million is going to market in January with the court's approval.