Southwest

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.

Kansas tax collections in May exceeded revenues in May 2011, but fell below the official monthly revenue forecast.

Reno County Unified School District 313 won approval last week for a $45 million bond proposal, breaking a string of three straight defeats.

Arizona proponents of a plan to make permanent a temporary 1% state sales tax said they already have more than enough signatures to put the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Trustees of Maricopa Unified School District No. 4 last week opted to send a $230 million general obligation bond request to voters Nov. 6, turning down a proposal for a larger bond package.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., would set aside $24 million for improvements to its $220 million Jobing.com arena under a lease to the proposed buyer of the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes.

DALLAS — Dallas voters will decide in November on a $600 million general obligation bond package focused on basic infrastructure projects under a proposal outlined Wednesday to the City Council.

DALLAS — The Houston Airport System expects to begin expansion of Hobby Airport next spring using debt backed by Southwest Airlines as the discount carrier begins offering international flights.

DALLAS – Texas state agencies were directed Tuesday to develop budgets for the next two fiscal years that freeze general fund spending at current levels.