Arkansas

Arkansas lawmakers are expected this week to adopt a $4.93 billion general fund budget for fiscal 2014.

Voters turned down a tax increase to support $30 million of bonds to expand a community college campus in Hot Springs.

Lawmakers have approved a measure authorizing $125 million of state GO bonds for a large steel mill project in northeast Arkansas.

Collections from the Arkansas state income and sales tax came in below expectations in March, dropping total revenue to $346.4 million.

The Arkansas Senate gave quick approval to a bill providing $125 million of state bonds as an economic incentive for a $1.1 billion steel mill project.

Top legislative leaders back a measure authorizing $125 million of state general obligation bonds for a steel mill project in northeast Arkansas.

Arkansas will save almost $700 million through a private insurance option in an expansion of the Medicaid program, a report said.

Two studies authorized by Legislature cast doubts on benefits from $125 million of state GO bonds for a proposed steel mill near Osceola.

A delay in federal income tax returns in early January reduced state income tax refunds in February, revenue officials said last week.

Two feasibility studies of plan to issue $125 million of state GO bonds for a steel mill project should be ready for legislative review by early next week.

Arkansas Supreme Court said property tax for schools cannot be diverted to economic development.

The Internal Revenue Service has declared as taxable interest earnings from tax-exempt bonds issued by an authority in Little Rock, Ark., but that may be the least of the bondholders' concerns because the bonds are in default and they may not receive any more interest payments.

Proposed legislation would cap increases in state general fund spending to 3% a year except in emergencies.

Southwest bond issuance volume rebounded 53% to $64.5 billion in 2012, according to Thomson Reuters data, with prospects for continued stability in the current year.

Arkansas' January collections of $516 million are 13.5% higher than the expectation for net available revenue.

National Park Community College, serving Hot Springs, Ark., will ask voters for general obligation bonds for a new technical campus.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and the state's top economic development officials answered questions last week on plans to issue $125 million of state bonds for a steel mill.

Arkansas sales tax on groceries would drop under a new bill linking the rate to debt service on outstanding bonds.

Stephens Inc. was picked as Arkansas' financial advisor for up to $1.3 billion of revenue bonds to finance a statewide highway program.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will ask lawmakers for $125 million of state GO bonds to help finance a $1.1 billion steel mill planned for northeast Arkansas.