Southwest

The USS Texas is slowly sinking at its berth near Houston, and $25 million of debt approved by voters in 2008 won’t make any difference.

The Texas Facilities Commission is considering five valid unsolicited proposals for a potential $500 million public-private partnership for projects at the capitol complex in Austin.

DALLAS — Taking advantage of high credit ratings, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners will refund $122 million of debt for savings while seeking new ways of serving a growing metro area.

DALLAS — Oklahoma's rainy-day fund likely will exceed its pre-recession level of almost $600 million by the end of fiscal 2012 on June 30, up from a low point of only $2.03 in January 2011.

DALLAS — Colorado will issue $625 million of special revenue bonds to replenish its unemployment compensation fund next week.

DALLAS — The Tulsa County, Okla., Independent School District No. 3 will finance the second phase of its capital improvement plan with proceeds from $67.3 million of lease revenue bonds issued by the Tulsa County Industrial Authority.

DALLAS — Houston’s decision to allow Southwest Airlines to open five new international gates at Hobby Airport in competition with United Airlines at Bush Intercontinental Airport is a credit positive for the Houston Airport System, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

DALLAS — Amid renewed attention to the growing border economy, two major bond issues from the El Paso, Texas, international crossroads region will provide funding for transportation, law enforcement and education.

Sales tax collections in May totaled $2.1 billion, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said last week, up 7.3% from May 2011 revenues.

Oklahoma revenues were up in May despite a cooling off of the state’s oil and gas severance tax collections, Treasurer Ken Miller said last week. Collections were up 6% from last year, he said, down from the average growth of 9.2% over the last 12 months.