Colorado

DALLAS — Colorado’s Regional Transportation District is putting off a decision on whether to ask voters for a sales tax increase to complete the $6.7 billion FasTracks rail plan by 2017.

DALLAS — Colorado’s Regional Transportation District should shelve plans to for a tax-hike referendum this year or risk rejection of additional funds to complete the FasTracks rail projects by 2017, according to an advisory group.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $7 million of revenue bonds issued in 2007 by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for Confluence Energy LLC to finance the construction of a wood-pellet manufacturing plant in Kremmling, Colo.

DALLAS — As Denver International Airport embarks on the largest expansion project in its 16-year history, it’s benefitting from surging passenger levels and an improving economy that yielded a new traffic record in 2010.

DALLAS — Denver’s Regional Transportation District is considering asking voters for a 0.4% sales tax increase this year or next to complete the $6.7 billion FasTracks project currently under construction.

DALLAS — Newly inaugurated ­Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper issued three executive orders designed to ­improve the economy Tuesday as the evenly ­divided General Assembly prepared to open its 2011 legislative session.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $250 million of Build America Bonds issued by Denver School District No. 1 in December 2009 to finance construction, renovation, and repair of school ­facilities.

Colorado property values fell 5.3% in 2010 and are expected to fall another 6.9% in 2011, according to the December economic forecast from the nonpartisan Legislative Council.

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $117.45 million of variable-rate demand utilities system subordinate-lien refunding revenue bonds that were issued in 2004 by Colorado Springs, Colo., for Colorado Springs Utilities to refund some 1994 bonds.

Facing more budget-balancing challenges in 2011, Colorado will issue $500 million of tax revenue anticipation notes Thursday to smooth cash flows in the coming year.

DALLAS — Colorado state Sen. Chris Romer, a former public finance consultant and the son of ex-Governor Roy Romer, announced plans Tuesday to run for mayor of Denver.

DALLAS — A new issuer known as the Colorado Bridge Enterprise joins the December rush to market next week with $300 million of taxable and tax-exempt debt.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s last week downgraded the Regional ­Transportation District of Colorado’s lease-revenue debt to A-minus from A-plus as it prepares to issue $310 million of certificates of participation.

DALLAS — Coloradans will decide today whether the state has issued its last bonds, as voters throughout the nation deliver their verdict on debt and taxes.

DALLAS — The University of Colorado Board of Regents enjoyed a good market response Tuesday to a $95 million issue that included taxable and tax-exempt debt, said associate treasurer David Solin.

DALLAS — Even with ratings at the low end of investment grade, Colorado’s E-470 Public Highway Authority sees an opportunity for favorable interest rates on a $105 million toll revenue bond refunding this week.

DALLAS — The City and County of Denver is aiming to take advantage of low interest rates and its top credit rating with the competitive sale of $45 million of general obligation bonds and a $40 million refunding of certificates of participation.

DALLAS — Three ballot initiatives that would drastically curtail the ability of Colorado state agencies and local governments to issue debt are winning little support from voters, according to the first public polling on the issue.

DALLAS — Facing a budget deficit that could run as high as $257 million, the Colorado Legislature must cut spending by at least $189 million before the end of the fiscal year on June 30, according to state economists.

DALLAS — Michael Cheroutes, a Denver attorney and expert in public finance, will guide Colorado’s search for new highway funding mechanisms as the first director of its High Performance Transportation Enterprise agency.