Southwest

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said the city will seek a 1% increase in the sales tax rate in a September election rather than the 1.25% that had been proposed.

Amid slowing growth, the north Dallas suburb of Frisco is preparing to issue nearly $123 million of general obligation refunding bonds to achieve net present-value interest cost savings of about 5%.

Colorado will cover its cash-flow needs next week with the sale of $600 million of tax and revenue anticipation notes.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will call a statewide election on a proposal to renew the state's existing $575 million Garvee road bond program.

CHICAGO - Attorneys for state retirees in Colorado and Minnesota are weighing whether to appeal court decisions last week dismissing litigation that challenged legislative cuts to pension cost-of-living hikes but fear that such rulings will "embolden" other cash-strapped states eying ways to ease pension costs.

DALLAS — In a holiday-shortened week, Dallas plans to offer investors $236 million of highly rated water and sewer bonds as the city continues to reduce spending amid continuing economic weakness.

Provisions in SB 1, passed by the Texas Legislature in the final days of June’s special session, will require publication of more timely information on the state of the state’s finances.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has entered the probe into questionable payments by Harris County to two brokers involved in county investment transactions.

The Oklahoma City suburb of Norman has created a rainy-day fund that sets a target of 4.5% of general fund expenditures.

State revenue totaled $5.54 billion in fiscal 2011, according to preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Revenue. The total is $685 million more than in fiscal 2010, and $88 million more than April’s official forecast.