Southwest

Colorado property values fell 5.3% in 2010 and are expected to fall another 6.9% in 2011, according to the December economic forecast from the nonpartisan Legislative Council.

With the year-end deadline approaching, Houston this week will refund $94 million of private-activity bonds for its airport system with variable-rate debt to gain exemption from federal alternative-minimum tax provisions.

Voters in Oklahoma County Independent School District No. 12 last week approved three bond proposals totaling $29.9 million.

A $191 million general obligation bond package proposed by Oklahoma County Independent School District No. 52 failed last week despite a majority of voters endorsing the bond package.

New Mexico Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has asked state agencies, boards, and commissions to give her proposals that would cut spending in the state's fiscal 2012 budget by 10% of 2011 expenditures.

A group of parents in Johnson County Unified School District 512 has filed a federal suit asking that the local district be allowed to raise the property tax levy.

The Pulaski County Special School District could build as many as five new schools and renovate two others with proceeds from a proposed $181 million bond program outlined last week by superintendent Charles Hopson.

DALLAS — When the Texas Legislature convenes in January, the top priority is expected to be the estimated $25 billion budget shortfall and ongoing problems with education funding.

DALLAS — The Texas attorney general’s office filed papers in a Dallas County state district court Wednesday rejecting the effort by Irving to divert state taxes to support city bonds for a $250 million entertainment complex in the Dallas suburb.

Glendale, Ariz., will issue up to $125 million of excise tax revenue bonds under a lease agreement designed to keep the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team playing in the city-owned Jobing.com arena.