Southwest

DALLAS — In an unusual combination of financings, the Tarrant Regional Water District in Fort Worth will issue $295 million of bonds in two deals for a $2.3 billion water pipeline from East Texas.

A bond committee has asked the trustees of the Tatum Independent School District to set a May election on a $29.9 million general obligation bond program.

Legalizing the estimated 132,000 illegal immigrants working in the Houston area would result in an additional $1.4 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues, a Houston business advocacy group said last week at an immigration seminar at Rice University.

Valero Energy Corp. said last week it would not appeal Texas’ rejection of its request for a property-tax exemption on refinery equipment.

Texas sales tax revenues totaled $1.98 billion in December, an increase of 9.5% from December 2010 and the 21st consecutive month of collection increases.

Kansas is one of only three states without an emergency reserve fund, but voters might be asked to change that as early as November.

The fiscal 2013 spending plan outlined last week by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback would use $70 million of gambling revenue from two new casinos for debt service or early retirement of state bonds.

DALLAS — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback Wednesday said he will seek a lowering of the state income tax rate that would eliminate 23 tax deductions, including charitable donations, home loans and local property taxes.

DALLAS — Leaders of the Democratic minority in the Kansas Legislature proposed a plan Tuesday to draw on projected budget surpluses and increase state aid to local education.

DALLAS — As New Mexico celebrates its centennial year, lawmakers will gather in Santa Fe next week to consider Gov. Susana Martinez's proposed $5.61 billion budget.