Southwest

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.

Up to $140 million of transportation projects may be part of Austin's general obligation bond referendum in November, along with an expected $250 million of capital improvement projects.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin last week reiterated her support for a state bond issue to repair the deteriorating Capitol building in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma General Fund revenues in June were below June 2011 totals due to a 42% drop in energy severance tax collections, State Treasurer Ken Miller said.

A constitutional amendment authorizing up to $1.3 billion of state highway construction bonds will be Issue 1 on the Arkansas Nov. 6 ballot.

Work will begin Wednesday on Mesa, Ariz.'s bond-financed baseball spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs.

Scottsdale, Ariz. City Council voted last week to bring back a citizens bond review panel to study proposals that could be included in a 2013 bond referendum.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday said he would reject an estimated $62 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid in the state, citing states' rights.

In a state where drought has threatened to slow growth, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is proposing a desalination project to supply water for development on state-owned land while raising revenue for the state Permanent School Fund.