Southwest

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said last week that any new source of revenue to stem the state’s estimated $2 billion budget deficit in fiscal 2010 must be quick, simple, and effective.

Arizona collected taxes totaling $1.8 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 but spent $2.8 billion over the same period, according to the latest monthly revenue report from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

DALLAS — A decade after Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened for business, it is keeping the light on for a super low-fare carrier that might want to use its no-frills South Terminal.

DALLAS — Voters across the Southwest approved nearly $4 billion of bond proposals in lightly attended off-year elections Tuesday.

DALLAS — For the second time in four months, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is preparing to call a special session of the Legislature to deal with a budget deficit that has grown to $1.75 billion.

DALLAS — Texas voters today will decide whether to issue $2 billion of bonds for veterans housing, partner with the Veterans Administration on a South Texas hospital, and redirect a $450 million education fund toward the creation of more top-tier universities.

Reduced revenue could require Kansas to again lower aid to almost 300 local school districts by as much as $70 million. The state government has already reduced financial assistance by $215 per student since January.

The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $30 million revenue bond issue to finance a new residence hall and an outdoor sports complex at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said last week that a temporary increase in the city’s sales tax could prevent additional cuts in municipal services that have already been pared down significantly.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Thursday approved a proposal by the University of North Texas System for a 28,000-seat football stadium that will be financed in part with $38 million of student fee revenue bonds.