Southwest

Bexar County plans to refund $332.7 million of bonds backed by venue and car rental taxes. The previously issued debt financed improvements to AT&T Center sports arena and San Antonio's tourism projects.

More than 16 years after Dallas voters approved $246 million of bonds for development of parks and a "parkway" between the levees of the Trinity River, the city still has work to do. The "parkway" has become a proposed high-speed toll road whose financing is still undetermined. Meanwhile, bond money is continuing to build bridges, trails and nature centers in the 10,000-acre area designated as the Trinity River Corridor.

San Antonio is planning to issue more than $600 million of bonds this month and next for its water and electric utilities, with most of the proceeds going toward refunding.

Agencies in Arizona, California and Nevada are expected to agree on reduced consumption of water from Lake Mead as a 14-year drought continues to lower the reservoir toward a level that requires federal restrictions.

In its only bond deal this year, Dallas expects to raise about $530 million for new money and refunding, including debt authorized for the Trinity River Corridor Project in 1998.

After a record year of bond issuance, the Texas Department of Transportation has reduced its borrowing costs by $425 million through refunding at historically low interest rates, officials said.

Fifteen years after opening at the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin Bergstrom International Airport is expanding through its $600 million capital improvement program. The project includes expansion of the terminal and aircraft apron, new baggage systems, accommodations for international flights, a new parking garage and consolidated rental car center.

Austin's $275 million of revenue bonds scheduled for pricing Dec. 9 will allow the city's growing airport to accommodate more international flights as it improves parking for aircraft and cars.

Arkansas revenues were 11.8% higher than the same month last year and 6.8% above forecast, according to John Shelnutt, state director of economic analysis and tax research.

A $20.8 million green bond issue will allow Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems to recycle waste heat from gas pipeline compressors as a power source for its utility partners.