Arkansas

Arkansas House defeats plan to raise taxes by $200 million per year to support road bonds.

With a strong, fourth-quarter kick, bond volume in the Southwest set a second consecutive record at $83.4 billion, surpassing the 2015 total by 7.2%, according to data from Thomson Reuters.

Extending a temporary sales tax to keep Arkansas roads in good shape preferred by voters in new statewide funding study.

Energy-producing states affected by two years of deterioration in natural resource prices can expect continued global headwinds to pressure revenues, according to Fitch Ratings.

Arkansas voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to lift a state constitutional limit on general obligation bonds for large development projects. They will also decide whether to legalize medical marijuana use.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will propose a highway funding plan to the 2017 General Assembly that includes a gas tax hike.

The University of Arkansas will join the college football stadium arms race with a $115 million bond issue for the Razorbacks’ home field.

Arkansas will study whether tolled lanes are the best way to finance a 14-mile segment of a new interstate highway.

Issuers in the Southwest sold $42.85 billion of bonds in the first half of 2016, only 0.6% behind the record pace of the same period last year, according to Thomson Reuters data.

After ending the 2016 fiscal year with a surplus, Arkansas began the new fiscal year with revenues running 1.7% below projections, officials said.

A decision to delay an $83 million refunding until Britons voted on an exit from the European Union proved highly rewarding for Arkansas as interest-rate savings far surpassed earlier expectations, according to those involved in the sale.

Unlike its neighbors, Arkansas does not tap its general revenues for transportation projects.

Arkansas lawmakers ended a special session Monday with approval of a bill to raise $50 million for highways, allowing the state to receive $200 million in federal funds.

A Colorado lawmaker’s proposal for a $3.5 billion state road bond referendum fails in the final hours of 2016 session.

Arkansas revenues remained above the forecast for March as state legislators prepared to open a special session dealing with Medicaid expansion.

With revenue rising more than 28% in February, Arkansas is on track to a $35.9 million surplus by the end of the fiscal year, state officials said.

Municipal bond primary market volume in the Southwest surpassed the previous record set in 2008, climbing 20% to $77.7 billion.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to raise state transportation funding by $750 million over 10 years without raising taxes.

Arkansas revenues for December fell below those reported for the same month in 2014 but managed to surpass expectations by $7.7 million.

A healthy increase in sales and use tax revenue indicates growing consumer confidence, Arkansas officials said.