Texas

Texas collected $1.87 billion of sales tax revenue in March, up almost 17% from collections in March 2011.

A preliminary Travis County state district court ruling on whether oil and gas drilling and production equipment is exempt from the Texas sales tax could cost the state millions of dollars a year in lost revenues and billions more in refunds.

DALLAS — Houston voters should expect a general obligation bond election in November, Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday in her third state of the city address.

DALLAS — The Dallas City Council approved up to $25.5 million of tax and revenue certificates of obligation Wednesday to finance improvements to the city-owned Cotton Bowl stadium in Fair Park.

Proponents of San Antonio's $596 million general obligation bond plan set for a May 12 election will rely on citizen "bond ambassadors" to get their message across to voters.

Two of Texas' most congested cities — Houston and Austin — are moving forward with managed toll lane projects after identifying sources of funding from the Texas Department of Transportation.

More than half of the residential properties in Williamson County dropped in value last year, the county appraisal district said last week.

Bond attorneys are studying a recent IRS ruling that allowed Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to issue $1 million of bonds that were not subject to the alternative minimum tax.

DALLAS — Members of the Dallas City Council were enthusiastic last week about a plan to keep a college football game in its long-time home with stadium improvements financed by $25.5 million of certificates of obligation.

DALLAS — Dallas would issue up to $25.5 million of 10-year certificates of obligation to upgrade the city-owned Cotton Bowl stadium under a plan outlined Monday to the City Council's budget and finance committee.

Travis County District Judge John Dietz said last week he intends to combine four lawsuits challenging Texas’ school finance laws into a single case. A fifth group of plaintiffs will be included as interveners in one of them.

The Dallas City Council last week approved a request by Uplift Education for up to $90 million of tax-exempt bonds to build new charter public schools in Dallas and Fort Worth.

DALLAS — A $500 million general obligation bond package going to Dallas voters this fall will do little to whittle down the city's $4.4 billion of needed street repairs and reconstruction.

DALLAS — The Austin Community College District plans to price $44.4 million of lease-revenue bonds to build its first campus in suburban Hays County after a Texas Supreme Court victory cleared a path to the market.

DALLAS — Private developers have pledged $80 million to help finance a $250 million entertainment center adjoining the Irving convention center in Texas, but city officials doubt that the pledge is firm enough to earn a credit rating.

DALLAS — El Paso County, Texas, commissioners Monday approved the development of a five-year capital improvement program to identify and finance needed long-term assets.

DALLAS — Chicago-based Mesirow Financial is opening a Houston public finance office that will be headed by former Citigroup Global Markets executive Anderson Bynam, according to the company.

DALLAS — In an effort to acquire cleaner energy sources, San Antonio is using $521 million of taxable revenue bonds to buy an 800-megawatt natural gas power plant for city-owned CPS Energy.

Trustees of the Tidehaven Independent School District last week voted to put a $50.5 million general obligation bond package to voters May 10.

Property values in Harris County, Texas, are expected to rise 4.54% in 2012 based on preliminary figures from the Harris County Appraisals District.