Southwest

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission last week delayed the awarding of contracts for a number of highway projects due to questions over the continued availability of federal funding.

Tulsa County Independent School District No. 5 has several projects under way that are wholly or partially financed with proceeds from $155 million of lease revenue bonds approved by voters in 2008.

Little Rock last week balanced its $135 million operating budget for 2009 with the help of a $1.4 million transfer from the solid-waste fund and spending cuts that eliminated a $3 million budget deficit.

The Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District will sell $11.8 million of certificates of participation in a negotiated sale this week to finance site work and design and development efforts for a downtown hotel as part of the Tucson Convention Center expansion project.

A significant drop in sales tax revenue may require Phoenix to reduce its bus system’s $171 million annual operating budget by $16 million in fiscal 2011 to avoid an operating fund deficit.

DALLAS — Rising enrollment resulting from rapid growth in the northern suburbs of Oklahoma City is the primary driver in the request by the Oklahoma County Independent School District No. 6 for $142.1 million of general obligation bonds.

DALLAS — The Travis County Housing Authority in Austin is in the process of revamping its accounting procedures after federal auditors reported that the agency’s books could not be audited and that $2.5 million had been misapplied to non-federal programs.

DALLAS — The Bushland Independent School District is bringing $9.1 million of unlimited-tax school building bonds to market next week on the heels of a three-notch upgrade to A-plus from BBB-plus by Standard & Poor’s.

DALLAS - Oklahoma extended a 5% reduction in state agency spending through September as tax revenues continue an eight-month slide.

DALLAS - With revenues falling and costs rising, the Regional Transportation District of metropolitan Denver is developing a backup plan for its FasTracks transit program in the event voters refuse to raise more sales taxes to complete all the projects.