Bond elections

The Fayetteville City Council will decide in October whether to put bonds backed by an extension of a one-cent sales tax on the March 2026 ballot.

City council approval of a five-part bond proposition for the Nov. 4 ballot comes as Denver faces a two-year, $250 million budget shortfall.

The city council signed off on an $810 million debt sale, while it considers asking voters for a property tax rate increase this year to address budget gaps.

Hays County will appeal a June 23 court ruling that voided a successful GO bond election while it explores issuing alternative debt to fund road projects.

A 2024 Illinois law loosened school bond restrictions, allowing districts to authorize some debt without an election. That caused a backlash in one district.

The city council voted unanimously to hold a special election on an 11-part GO bond proposition, which will be the largest in the city's history.

School districts across Missouri face uncertainty over certification of their bond measures in light of a statute requiring a precise public notice window.

Hays County's Nov. 5 election for nearly $440 million of bonds, which won voter approval, was voided by a state judge due to an open meetings act violation.

The Columbus City Council approved a November ballot measure seeking voter approval for $1.9 billion of triple-A-rated general obligation bonds.

Mayor Mike Johnston, who announced furloughs and a hiring freeze, said an economic downturn spurred by President Donald Trump is major challenge for the city.

Some bills seeking to restrain local government debt issuance are still alive as the Texas Legislature's 2025 session heads towards its home stretch.

Among the defeated referendums were three for bonds totalling $146 million.

The up to $385 million of sales and use tax revenue bonds will finance sewer projects to address sanitary system overflows under a federal consent decree.

The $839.5 million Harris County Hospital District bond sale will tap $2.5 billion of voter-approved debt authorization for a $3.2 billion expansion project.

Fiscal 2026 general fund revenue for the city, which is considering a November bond election, is expected to be flat amid economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs.

Bills have been introduced to eliminate the May election option for local bond and tax propositions, forcing them onto the November general election ballot.

Legislation signed into law will place $500 million of general obligation bonds and a constitutional amendment for economic development districts on the ballot.

Issuers in the eight-state region sold $103.3 billion of bonds last year, with Texas deals accounting for $68.13 billion of the debt.

Public school districts sought bond authorizations in January totaling $469 million, which topped an available state cap of $293.4 million.

Prolific debt issuance by Texas school districts, state issuers, and others drove muni volume to a state record in 2024, easily surpassing 2023's $59 billion.