To: Mark R. Hafner, City Manager
From: Aaron Rector, Director of Finance
Subject:
Title
Consider adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2017, to provide funds for water and sewer system improvements, street improvements, fire station improvements, and related issuance costs; levying an annual ad valorem tax for the payment of said certificates; approving an official statement; providing an effective date; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject.
Action Requested:
Consider adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2017, to provide funds for water and sewer system improvements, street improvements, fire station improvements, and related issuance costs.
Background:
The certificate of obligations issuance would be for an amount not to exceed $9,850,000 would be used to fund the following projects:
Water and Sewer Improvements - $4,500,000
Alta Vista Transmission Main - $1,630,000
Alta Vista Pump Station - $1,630,000
Fort Worth 48” Transmission Line - $1,240,000
Street Improvements - $2,422,979
Keller Hicks Street Improvements / Quiet Zones - $1,927,159
Mt. Gilead and US 377 Intersection Improvements - $495,820
Fire Station Improvements - $2,671,754
Fire Station 2 & 3 Rehabilitation and Remote Bays - $2,671,754
Related Issuance Costs - $255,267
A notice of intent authorizing the issuance of Certificates of Obligation (CO’s) to provide funds for water and sewer system improvements, street improvements, fire station improvements, in an amount not to exceed $9,850,000 (including issuance costs) was approved by the City Council on June 6, 2017.
Prior to the issuance of CO’s, the City is required to publish notice of its intent to issue CO's. The notice must be published twice in consecutive weeks, with the date of the first publication being at least 30 days prior to the scheduled date of adoption of the ordinance authorizing issuance of the CO's. If a petition protesting the issuance of the CO's is signed by at least 5% of the registered voters of the City prior to the adoption of the ordinance and issuance of the CO's, the City may not proceed with the CO issuance, unless the CO's are authorized in an election.
On June 6, 2017, the City Council unanimously authorized publication of the notice of intent (Resolution No. 3888). The required notices were published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on June 14, 2017 and June 21, 2017. No petition protesting the issuance of the CO’s has been received at this time.
The bond sale will be finalized on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 and will be presented to the City Council at the July 18, 2017 Council meeting. Accordingly, no information related to annual debt requirements is available at this time.
Budget Impact:
There is a budget impact of approximately $1,058,633 in fiscal year 2017-18 for a principal and interest payment. The Debt Service Fund (Interest and Sinking) fund will have a budget impact of $788,671 and the Water and Wastewater fund will have a budget impact of $269,962.
Financial Considerations:
Annual debt service costs approximate $1,058,633 per year through fiscal year 2023-24 when the interest and sinking debt ends. The water and wastewater portion continues thru fiscal year 2036-37 at an average annual impact of $317,315.
Because the City is pledging it’s “full faith and credit” for repayment of the CO’s, the Ordinance includes a provision for levying an ad valorem tax. However, only a portion of the debt will be funded annually thru ad valorem as the city’s water rates will be structured to fund debt service of $4,500,000 plus related issuance costs. The “full faith and credit” provision is necessary because the bonds are being issued in the form of CO’s, rather than revenue bonds. By issuing CO’s, the City realizes significant savings in borrowing costs.
Legal Review:
Bond counsel has prepared the ordinance.
Alternatives:
City Council has the following alternatives:
- Approve as submitted
- Approve with changes
- Denial
Council Action:
Consider adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2017, to provide funds for water and sewer system improvements, street improvements, fire station improvements, and related issuance costs.