Southwest

Travis County voters may decide in November on whether to issue GO bonds for a $343 million civil courthouse in downtown Austin.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry called for a constitutional amendment that would allow $1.8 billion in tax relief and a budget that would use $3.7 billion from the rainy day fund for water and transportation projects.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will ask lawmakers for $125 million of state GO bonds to help finance a $1.1 billion steel mill planned for northeast Arkansas.

Trustees of Ector County Independent School District have approved the mid-February sale of $129.8 million of GO bonds approved in November 2012.

Kyle voters are expected to decide in May on up to $35.3 million of city general obligation bonds to finance road reconstruction in the town near San Antonio

A 2008 law authorizing $25 million of state bonds to repair a city-owned low-water dam on the Arkansas River at Tulsa would be revoked by a bill proposed by Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid.

The two-year proposed state operating budget from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback draws $560 million from the DOT highway fund to cover non-transportation needs.

Shawnee County Unified School District 345, Kansas, is asking voters to approve $42.5 million of GO bonds for a $57.5 million capital effort on April 2.

Amid major changes in health-care finance, Phoenix Children's Hospital will refund $284.6 million of revenue bonds used to build an 11-story tower.

Moody's Investors Service is maintaining a negative outlook on Bexar County's Aaa rating based on the San Antonio area's dependence on federal spending.