Arizona

Valley Metro will build an 11-mile extension of its light rail network from downtown Phoenix after last week's approval of the project by the Maricopa Association of Governments.

A lawsuit filed by a group seeking an election to overturn Glendale, Ariz.'s recent sales tax increase will be heard Aug. 14 in Maricopa County Superior Court

Tucson residents who want to put in their two cents worth on the city’s $100 million general obligation bond referendum must pay $240 to have their opinions printed in the official voter pamphlet.

Phoenix wants to put $50 million of city funds into federally insured accounts at local banks and credit unions that are chartered in Arizona or have a physical presence in Maricopa County.

Phoenix collected $355 million in sales taxes in the first 11 months of fiscal 2012, up from $342.8 million in the same period of fiscal 2011.

A constitutional amendment authorizing up to $1.3 billion of state highway construction bonds will be Issue 1 on the Arkansas Nov. 6 ballot.

Work will begin Wednesday on Mesa, Ariz.'s bond-financed baseball spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs.

Scottsdale, Ariz. City Council voted last week to bring back a citizens bond review panel to study proposals that could be included in a 2013 bond referendum.

Glendale, Ariz., officials have until July 24 to validate 4,100 petition signatures seeking to reverse a city tax increase expected to produce $23 million per year.

Glendale, Ariz. City Council last week approved an increase in the city's secondary property tax.

Abstract Arizona's economy in April hit its highest level since December 2008, with activity outpacing the nation, according to a report last week from Comerica Bank.

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett on Tuesday rejected petitions signed by more than 290,000 voters calling for a Nov. 6 vote to continue a 1-cent sales tax that expires in May.

A campaign to make permanent Arizona's 1% sales tax may be derailed by a discrepancy between the official version of the ballot language and the petitions being circulated to put the initiative on the November ballot.

The El Mirage, Ariz., City Council has adopted a $43.5 million capital improvement plan for fiscal 2013 that includes the proceeds of $8.5 million of general obligation bonds approved by voters in November 2011.

Gilbert, Ariz., will not be able to issue any general obligation bonds or other authorized debt this year after the City Council voted last week to keep the secondary property-tax rate unchanged in fiscal 2013 for the 11th year in a row.

The Tempe, Ariz., City Council will decide later this month on whether to send a $29.8 million general obligation bond program to voters in November. The council gave its preliminary go-ahead to the plan last week.

Arizona proponents of a plan to make permanent a temporary 1% state sales tax said they already have more than enough signatures to put the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Trustees of Maricopa Unified School District No. 4 last week opted to send a $230 million general obligation bond request to voters Nov. 6, turning down a proposal for a larger bond package.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., would set aside $24 million for improvements to its $220 million Jobing.com arena under a lease to the proposed buyer of the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., would pay nearly $325 million in management fees to the proposed buyer of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team under a plan to protect the city's $180 million bond funded investment in the Jobing.com arena.