Southwest

Texas lawmakers are proposing reductions in spending over the next two years, despite schools and state agencies clamoring for restoration of funds cut in the last legislative session.

Austin Independent School District may ask voters to decide in May for $889.9 million of GO bond authorization to finance a capital plan that focuses on enrollment growth.

Arizona plans to price $706 million of highway revenue bonds Wednesday as the legislature begins considering how to distribute the state's rebounding revenues.

Bills filed last week by a key lawmaker would take $2 billion from the state’s $8.8 billion Rainy Day Fund to finance a revolving bond program for local water supply efforts.

Sales tax revenues in December totaled $2.17 billion, Comptroller Susan Combs said last week, with growth in construction and manufacturing.

The Kansas Chamber wants a cut in state corporate income taxes from the 2013 legislative, CEO and former House Speaker Mike O’Neal said last week.

Kansas Legislature must increase state aid to local schools after a Shawnee County District Court said the current level is unconstitutionally low.

The Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission said last week it would support a bond issue of up to $65 million to renovate the city’s aging music hall.

A proposed $500 million freeway in northern Pulaski County could be funded through tolls under a plan being studied by the state and the regional planning authority.

The Texas Department of Transportation needs $4 billion from the current session of the state legislature to keep up with infrastructure needs in the rapidly growing state, officials said.