Southwest

Fitch Ratings downgraded the Maricopa County Stadium District two notches to BBB-minus from BBB-plus due to falling revenues pledged for outstanding bonds, analysts said last week. The outlook is negative.

The Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP strengthened its school district finance representation recently when it hired Marcus Deitz as a partner.

DALLAS — The Texas Transportation Commission has cleared the way for financing a $1.6 billion toll road in Dallas County that leverages a federal loan and the TTC’s strong credit ratings.

DALLAS — A provision in the recent federal budget compromise will release $832 million of frozen education funds to Texas.

DALLAS — Standard & Poor’s on Wednesday upgraded the New Mexico Finance Authority to AAA from AA-plus ahead of a $16 million issue of senior-lien tax-backed bonds.

DALLAS — The Texas Department of Transportation would get another $3 billion of bond authorization under a proposal from the chairman of the state Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, but he said finding a long-term solution to the chronic problem of highway funding is not likely in the current session.

DALLAS — The Odessa Junior College District will exhaust the debt capacity approved by voters in November 2010 with Wednesday’s negotiated sale of $68.5 million of limited-tax bonds.

DALLAS — As its tax base shrinks amid the ongoing housing slump, Dallas County will seek savings on its long-term debt and finance improvements to its jail and court facilities with a package of bonds and notes worth a combined $76.5 million this week.

DALLAS — A Texas Senate subcommittee charged with finding billions of dollars in new, non-tax revenue has apparently located $5.5 billion that could be used to soften budget cuts that currently total $23 billion.

DALLAS — Construction is expected to begin in June on a $400 million Union Pacific rail hub in Santa Teresa, N.M., financed through a public-private partnership, after New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez signed four bills related to the project.