Southwest

The economy of Texas would take a severe hit if the Trump administration erects trade barriers with Mexico, local and state officials told the Texas Public Finance Conference.

In a year that promises dramatic changes, government officials and leaders in municipal finance will consider how to adjust to new policies and a new president at The Bond Buyer’s Texas Public Finance Conference.

In a far-reaching state-of-the-state address, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin called for a $350 million bond program to finance infrastructure, a fuel-tax increase to build roads, raises for teachers and elimination of the state income tax.

New Mexico Gov. Susan Martinez's signature on Senate Bill 114 is a negative credit factor for the state's schools, according to Moody's Investors Service. The bill reduces state aid by 2%.

In a critical year for the Texas health-care industry, the state's leaders have indicated no interest in tapping the state's growing rainy day fund to cover $1.2 billion in Medicaid underfunding.

Bonds used to finance Houston’s sports facilities will get a lift from the Super Bowl, which Moody’s Investors Service expects to bring an additional $1 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue that supports the debt.

President Trump's "sanctuary city" order is expected to foreshadow more long-term turbulence for urban-federal relations as the president sought to force compliance with his objectives by threatening to cut federal funding.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged the Texas Legislature to maintain funding for border security amid a state hiring freeze. He also called for school finance reform including school vouchers and a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution.

The Texas Permanent School Fund that guarantees more than $70 billion of public school construction bonds retains top credit ratings despite its increasing support for riskier charter school debt

With backing from President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, proponents of school vouchers see their best opportunity in years to shift tax dollars to private schools in the name of "school choice."