Southwest

A year after establishing a major base in Texas, the employee-owned public finance firm Baird is expanding in the state with a new Houston office headed by former Raymond James director Carmen Best.

Texas voters would be asked to approve the use of $6 billion from the state rainy day fund for water and road projects under a measure under consideration in the state Senate.

An Oklahoma Senate plan to delay a reduction of the state income tax rate for a full year will be opposed by Gov. Mary Fallin and the House leadership.

A proposed ban on capital appreciation bonds backed by property taxes is under consideration in the Texas House of Representatives after passage in the Senate.

Baylor Health Care System plans to issue bonds ahead of its merger with Scott & White Healthcare, and Moody's downgraded Baylor Health one notch.

Texas' least-populous county — but certainly not its poorest — is preparing to float $3.4 million of tax-supported notes to provide a local source of water for its 82 residents.

High prices for Oklahoma natural gas are credited for the slight increase in March revenues, Treasurer Ken Miller said last week.

Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed a bill structuring the New Mexico Finance Authority because it did not go far enough in reforming the agency.

Severe storms that slammed Kansas this winter are the culprits behind March's drop in sales and income tax collections.

Douglas County Unified School District 497's request for a $92.5 million bond package passed last week with an approval rating of more than 70%.