Texas

Texas voters' approval of a $2 billion state fund for water projects across the state is a positive credit factor for local utilities, Moody's Investors Service said in a Friday report.

The University of Texas Regents approved $265.5 million of bonds backed by the state's Permanent University Fund.

A lawsuit has halted delivery of $33 million of bonds for San Antonio's VIA Advanced Transportation District that priced Oct. 17.

Texas A&M University System will price $210 million of top-rated bonds backed by the state's Permanent University Funds in a competitive sale Wednesday.

Texas voters approved about 75% of the bond proposals on the Nov. 5 ballot, representing $3.92 billion of new money for cities, counties, schools and other special districts, results show.

The Texas Department of Transportation is again considering tolling the Interstate 35 freeway in Austin and lifting tolls on a troubled tollway skirting the city's eastern edge.

Texas voters approved a $2 billion water bond program Tuesday in the largest of many bond related issues voters decided in the off-year.

Dallas is considering a $300 million expansion of its downtown convention center after strong gains in bookings with the addition of a bond-financed hotel.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport provides a $31.6 billion economic impact to the metropolitan area, according to the University of North Texas Center of Economic Development and Research.

Houston Community College District carries the largest debt load among community colleges in Texas with $617 million, according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Texas school districts have shown strength under financial and enrollment pressure, Moody’s Investors Service reported Tuesday.

Texas' continuing drought will increase financial pressure on public water and sewer utilities in the state, according to a Fitch Ratings report.

The Internal Revenue System has closed an audit of bonds issued by the board of regents of the University of Houston System in 2004 with no change to the bonds' tax-exempt status.

In a complex multi-state issue, Catholic Health Initiatives expects to price about $1.2 billion of debt for its network of non-profit hospitals.

The City of Dallas hopes to improve views of the Trinity River by removing a defunct state jail.

Roughly $23 million of tax-exempt senior lien revenue bonds issued in 2003 to finance a jail may be taxable private activity bonds, an Internal Revenue Service agent has told the West Texas Detention Facility Corp.

Major colleges and universities face growing risks after boosting subsidies for sports programs, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service.

Anticipating a default by June, Moody's downgraded $1.1 billion of debt for the State Highway 130 toll road near Austin, Texas to Caa3.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is asking voters to approve draining $2 billion from a $9 billion rainy day fund to help pay for projects intended to provide sufficient water to the drought stricken state without raising taxes.

Texas lawmakers may allocate $250 million of unexpected registration fees to reverse a plan to convert some paved state roads to gravel.