Texas

Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier said Thursday that the 42 schools to be replaced or renovated in the $1.89 billion GO bond referendum will "change an entire city." Trustees must vote by early August to put the bond proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The "hurry-up offense" appears to be working for the Harris County Houston Sports Authority, as Standard & Poor's has improved the outlook on the stadium builder's junk-rated junior-lien debt. The outlook on the B-rated bonds went to stable from negative in S&P's recent report.

Houston ISD would focus most of the proceeds from a proposed $1.8 billion general obligation bond package on replacements and upgrades to high school campuses. District is wrapping up an $805 million bond program authorized by voters in 2007.

Baird, an employee-owned capital markets firm based in Milwaukee, has added five bankers to its public finance team and opened three new offices in Texas.

DALLAS — Moody’s Investors Service will keep the Aaa rating of Texas’ Alamo Community College District on negative outlook because of its exposure to a weakened U.S. credit profile, the agency said.

The USS Texas is slowly sinking at its berth near Houston, and $25 million of debt approved by voters in 2008 won’t make any difference.

The Texas Facilities Commission is considering five valid unsolicited proposals for a potential $500 million public-private partnership for projects at the capitol complex in Austin.

DALLAS — Houston’s decision to allow Southwest Airlines to open five new international gates at Hobby Airport in competition with United Airlines at Bush Intercontinental Airport is a credit positive for the Houston Airport System, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

DALLAS — Amid renewed attention to the growing border economy, two major bond issues from the El Paso, Texas, international crossroads region will provide funding for transportation, law enforcement and education.

Sales tax collections in May totaled $2.1 billion, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said last week, up 7.3% from May 2011 revenues.

DALLAS — Dallas voters will decide in November on a $600 million general obligation bond package focused on basic infrastructure projects under a proposal outlined Wednesday to the City Council.

DALLAS — The Houston Airport System expects to begin expansion of Hobby Airport next spring using debt backed by Southwest Airlines as the discount carrier begins offering international flights.

DALLAS – Texas state agencies were directed Tuesday to develop budgets for the next two fiscal years that freeze general fund spending at current levels.

DALLAS — The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, which feeds suburban traffic to the Harris County toll system in the Houston area, is advance refunding $119 million of debt while continuing its expansion.

Trustees of Southwest Independent School District in Bexar County, Texas, voted last week to put a $165 million general obligation bond proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The San Antonio City Council this month will consider creating a public facilities corporation that would issue up to $544 million of bonds for an expansion of the downtown convention center.

Austin voters won’t see a proposal to authorize $275 million of general obligation bonds for a light-rail system on the November ballot, Mayor Lee Leffingwell said last week.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s has placed the AAA-rated Irving, Texas, on CreditWatch for a possible downgrade as the Dallas suburb struggles to raise $170 million for an entertainment center adjoining its new convention center.

DALLAS — Moody's Investors Service has shifted the outlook on Dallas County's triple-A rating to stable from negative, citing surpluses in recent years and a low debt burden.

The El Paso, Texas, City Council last week approved a revised project list to be funded with proceeds from a proposed $468 million general obligation bond package going to voters Nov. 6.