Southwest

Oklahoma agencies may see their budgets cut next year by 7% or more rather than the less-severe cuts sought earlier as lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin continue to negotiate the fiscal 2012 budget.

The Arkansas Senate approved a ­measure last week that would allow the governor to put a 5-cent per gallon ­increase in state gasoline taxes on a statewide ­ballot.

The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board will hear April 15 a request from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville for a $132.3 million revenue bond package to finance projects at the main campus.

Trustees of the Central Arkansas Library System last week approved a plan to set an election on a proposed $32 million revenue bond issue.

DALLAS — The North Central Texas Council of Governments is considering funding for a proposed $1.4 billion commuter rail line from southwest Fort Worth to the north Dallas suburb of Plano.

DALLAS — The $164.5 billion state budget adopted last week by a Texas House committee could cost the state more than 335,000 jobs over the next two years, according to an economic impact report from the Legislative Budget Board.

DALLAS — The Texas House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday adopted a $164.5 billion, two-year operating budget that reduces spending by $22.9 billion from the current biennium.

DALLAS — Retail and institutional investors alike were attracted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s negotiated $142.9 million revenue bond sale on Tuesday and Wednesday.

DALLAS — Plans to add two reactors to the South Texas Project nuclear power plant near Houston became more doubtful this week as San Antonio’s public utility halted all discussions about buying power and the developer announced the project was on hold.

DALLAS — Amid a $500 million remodeling project, Dallas Love Field Airport won a two notch upgrade from Standard & Poor’s Wednesday, rising to A with a stable outlook from BBB-plus.