Far West

Orange County, Calif. loses its dispute with state Department of Finance over more than $73 million in property taxes in a conflict with roots in the county's bankruptcy.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has given Washington state its Excellence in Disclosure Award.

Hawaii State legislators killed a bill that would have reduced the state's take of a surcharge designated to pay the costs of a $5.2 billion elevated rail now under construction in Honolulu, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Unexpectedly strong income tax revenues are outpacing the growth in sales taxes receipts during the tepid economic recovery differing from previous recoveries when the opposite was true, according to a Standard & Poor's report.

The Los Angeles City Council approved a $4.76 billion Los Angeles International Airport plan to move the northernmost runway closer to homes in Westchester and Playa del Rey.

California Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, proposed a "blueprint for a responsible budget" that includes a reserve and a rainy day fund.

California legislation that would ban financial firms with a potential conflict of interest from participating in school district bond elections unanimously passed out of committee Tuesday.

California tax revenues are way ahead of projections for the year as the governor is set to release his revised budget later this month, leading to speculation about how the money will be spent.

State and local groups overwhelmingly praised the Senate passage of the online sales tax bill late Monday night but it still remains uncertain whether it can clear the House, where Republicans view it as a new tax.

Moody's Investors Service is coming up on a 90-day deadline when it will decide whether or not it will continue to rate the bonds of the successor agencies to California's 427 redevelopment agencies.