Southwest

Arkansas voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to lift a state constitutional limit on general obligation bonds for large development projects. They will also decide whether to legalize medical marijuana use.

A proposal to raise the Oklahoma sales tax by one cent would give teachers a raise if voters approve. The Sooner State ranks 49th among states in teacher pay, according to recent studies.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s approval of changes in the state’s public pension plan is a positive credit factor for the state, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The Sooner State still faces a possible downgrade of its Aa2 rating.

A special session of the New Mexico Legislature that cut nearly $371 million of spending to keep pace with falling revenues created a negative credit factor for public education, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Texas voters are deciding $4.76 billion of local bond proposals in the Nov. 8 election.

An alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives with Dignity Health to create one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health-care providers would be a positive credit factor for the two organizations, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

New Mexico has fallen from the ranks of Moody’s Investors Service Aaa-rated states due to shrinking reserves and falling revenues.

Property developments around DART’s light rail stations are important factors in the strong North Texas economy.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded the state of New Mexico's general obligation bonds to Aa1 from Aaa, affecting $327 million of outstanding debt.

The Regional Transportation District that serves metro Denver will continue to grow its rail and bus system with $197 million of revenue bonds.