Southwest

The Kansas House adopted the state’s fiscal 2012 budget early in the morning of Friday the 13th on the last day of the 2011 session, sending the measure to Gov. Sam Brownback.

DALLAS — The Texas House’s chief budget writer warned his colleagues Thursday that funding for state aid to public education and Medicaid could run out before the end of the next two-year budget cycle.

DALLAS — The Northside Independent School District in San Antonio is planning to sell nearly $130 million of general obligation refunding bonds before the end of the month in variable-rate mode.

DALLAS — With newly installed Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature already affixed to his first budget bill, Colorado’s evenly divided General Assembly adjourned this week, though it left some business unresolved.

DALLAS — Kansas legislative negotiators reached agreement late Wednesday on a $14 billion budget for fiscal 2012 that reduces the per-pupil state aid stipend for Kansas’ 289 local school districts.

DALLAS — Glendale, Ariz., has committed another $25 million to keep the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes playing in city-owned Jobing.com arena for another year, though officials have not yet identified where the money will come from.

DALLAS — The Oklahoma Legislature will begin considering a budget bill Thursday after Gov. Mary Fallin and fellow Republican leaders reached agreement on a $6.5 billion spending plan for fiscal 2012.

DALLAS — An alleged pay-to-play scheme in New Mexico involving former Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration was similar to one in New York that resulted in criminal penalties, according to lawsuits filed in state and federal court.

DALLAS — With $15 million in federal grants for a high-speed rail study, Texas officials see the state as well-positioned for developing a Houston-to-Dallas corridor.

The Seguin Independent School District’s request for $97.5 million of general obligation bonds won the support last week of the Seguin Chamber of Commerce.