Oklahoma

Kevin Stitt's first State of the State address called for higher reserves to manage downturns and raises for the state's teachers.

The inability to award new contracts with federal funds could delay some projects for several months, a state official said.

With a strong rebound in revenue for 2018, incoming Gov. Kevin Stitt will get a break from the shortfalls that plagued his predecessor.

The St. Louis-based, multi-state Catholic health system is selling $175 million of taxable paper Tuesday.

School vouchers in Arizona and bond measures in Colorado are among the fiscal ballot measures Southwest voters will decide Tuesday.

Oklahoma's rapidly recovering economy and structural budget repairs led Moody's to boost its outlook from negative.

NASBO Executive Director John Hicks said that deposits made to rainy days funds from budget surpluses will likely bring the total to more than $58 billion for fiscal 2018.

Bond volume in the region fell sharply in the first half of 2018, though one expert saw the 16% drop as better than anticipated.

Rural governments continue to lose economic ground, according to a Moody's Investors Service report.

The record May tax revenues are a product of a strong economy and 2017 revenue legislation, said Ken Miller, the state treasurer.

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Oklahoma has raised taxes to deal with a teachers strike, a credit positive step, says Moody's Investors Service.

After being reintroduced, Ardmore City Schools' $44 million bond election passed with 70 percent of the vote.

Many teachers went on strike Monday after state lawmakers approved a pay raise that represented about half of what they sought.

$44 million bond issue now includes Jefferson Gymatorium addition

After years tight budgets that followed tax cuts and revenue shortfalls, Oklahoma teachers and government employees are threatening to walk off the job.

A $30 million Wagoner Public Schools bond issue, which included a new elementary school, failed to get enough votes to pass during Tuesday's election.

Municipal bond volume across the eight-state Southwest region in 2017 fell 9% below its 2016 record.

Oklahoma lawmakers continue to cut spending for hard-pressed state agencies.

Mary Fallin made her final pitch for a balanced budget and pay raises for teachers in her last State of the State address.

The Ardmore City Schools board of education voted to hold a special election for a bond issue to fund several construction projects.