Southwest

Houston last week broke ground on a $1 billion bond-financed redevelopment of George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Robert Shepard has resigned as the governor-appointed director of the North Texas Tollway Authority’s board. Shepard’s resignation comes as the board faces a probe into it past business practices by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but his departure is said not to be related to that inquiry.

The effort by the Kansas City suburb of Mission to tax residents for roadwork is illegal and cannot be collected, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said last week in a non-binding opinion.

Trustees of National Park Community College last week postponed an April property tax election until its bond counsel can determine if the revenue can be used for capital improvements.

Roads and streets in every city and all 75 counties of Arkansas would be improved and upgraded with revenue from a proposed 0.5% increase in the state sales tax, highway director Scott Bennett told lawmakers last week.

Chandler, Ariz.’s sales tax revenues recorded a 14.8% increase in the first four months of fiscal 2012, the most it has recorded since the same period of fiscal 2007.

DALLAS — After sitting out 2011, the University of Texas System Board of Regents will offer $200 million of top-rated revenue financing system refunding bonds to a receptive market this week, followed shortly by another $235 million deal.

DALLAS — Oklahoma officials seeking an upgrade in the state's credit touted its strong economy and sound fiscal policies in talks last week with rating agencies.

DALLAS — Heading into a market rally that has brought yields to record lows, Denver Public Schools achieved double its targeted savings with $129.9 million of refunding bonds Wednesday.

DALLAS — The largest two-year state-supported technical college in Arkansas without local tax support will ask Pulaski County voters to create a taxing district.