Southwest

A rural southern Colorado school district has warned state officials that its financial problems are getting near the point where it may be unable to pay its debt.

The Aurora City Council has declared 125 acres of vacant land near Denver International Airport “blighted” in a step toward developing a Gaylord Entertainment Co. resort that would adjoin the proposed new home of the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.

Gov. Mike Beebe has set Nov. 8 as the election date for a constitutional amendment that would continue Arkansas’ Garvee program.

Midwestern University will expand its facilities in Glendale, Ariz., and Downers Grove, Ill., with proceeds from $50 million of tax-exempt revenue bonds approved last week by the Glendale city council.

DALLAS - Property tax collections in Arizona's largest county will fall for the third straight year as real estate values continue to plunge, officials said.

DALLAS - With its federal funding restored amid efforts to regain public trust, the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston is preparing a $511 million deal to get its belated light-rail expansion back on track.

Oklahoma’s seven state pension funds earned almost $4 billion during fiscal 2011, moving up to $21.5 billion from $17.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2011.

Residents of Benton will be asked to vote on Nov. 8 to extend the 1.5% hotel and restaurant tax to support $7 million to $8 million in bonds that would fund building a civic center.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is expected this week to set a Nov. 8 election on extending the state’s existing $575 million Garvee road bond program to pay for maintenance on 300 miles of interstate highway.

A law that allows Arizona school districts to spend bond proceeds on projects not on the original program approved by voters was challenged as unconstitutional last week in oral arguments in a Maricopa County Superior Court.