Southwest

The Topeka, Kan. hotel tax will go to 7% from the current 6% in 2013 to finance $4.2 million of improvements to a soccer complex.

Phoenix wants to put $50 million of city funds into federally insured accounts at local banks and credit unions that are chartered in Arizona or have a physical presence in Maricopa County.

Phoenix collected $355 million in sales taxes in the first 11 months of fiscal 2012, up from $342.8 million in the same period of fiscal 2011.

The New Mexico Finance Authority met in an emergency session Monday after learning that a phony audit had been used in statements to bond investors.

Baylor College of Medicine, the largest private medical school in the Southwest, plans to issue $320 million of bonds next month to refinance fixed and variable rate debt and stabilize its financial structure, officials said.

Denver's Regional Transportation District will decide by the end of the month whether to proceed with a $350 million light rail line through the suburb of Aurora after winning positive comments at a public hearing this week.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker unveiled a $410 million general obligation proposal that could go on the Nov. 6 ballot. Parker said the city has capacity to issue up to $430 million of new debt without increasing the property tax rate.

The city of Austin is refunding commercial paper, long-term debt and terminating a swap through a $335.9 million negotiated deal through Goldman Sachs & Co. Wednesday.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, called on lawmakers to end the practice of moving dedicated revenue into the general fund to balance the state's two-year budget. The current budget includes $4.9 billion of the transfers, which are not spent but enable Comptroller Susan Combs to certify that the fiscal 2012-2013 budget balanced revenues with expenditures.

The Corpus Christi, Texas, City Council will decide Tuesday on a proposal for a $170 million utility revenue bond issue expected to provide $60 million of new money and to refund $110 million of outstanding junior lien debt.