Texas

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.

DALLAS — Development of the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas-producing region of South Texas will have a $20 billion impact that is likely to boost credits for cities, counties and school districts in the area, researchers say.

DALLAS — Austin taxpayers would be asked to back $275 million of general obligation bonds to get an urban rail system started under a proposal before the City Council.

San Antonio aims to get a jump on a busy week in the municipal bond market with a $650 million refunding for the city's CPS Energy Utility.

DALLAS — Austin risks a downgrade on its electric utility bonds if it fails to raise rates high enough, its financial advisor told the City Council last week.

DALLAS — An Austin bond committee that has recommended $575 million for the November ballot is providing an alternative that will leave room for an urban rail project long championed by re-elected Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

DALLAS — The Houston Independent School District is refunding $186.5 million of variable-rate debt in one of the largest school bond issues in Texas this year.

DALLAS — When financial markets were collapsing in 2008, the North Texas Tollway Authority faced the challenge of raising $3.2 billion to pay for its most ambitious project, the State Highway 121 toll road connecting the far northern Dallas suburbs to the NTTA's existing system.