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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-246AUGUST 10, 2010 10 -246 RESOLUTION (CARRIED 6 -0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: APPROVE INTIAL RESOLUTION / NOT EXCEEDING $22,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS INITIATED BY: FINANCE DEPARTMENT INITIAL RESOLUTION authorizing not exceeding $22,000,000 bonds of the City of Oshkosh. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, that there shall be issued the general obligation bonds of said City in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $22,000,000 for the public purpose of refunding certain outstanding municipal obligations of said City. For the purpose of paying the various installments of principal of and interest on said bonds as they severally mature, prior to the issuance and delivery of said bonds there shall be levied on all taxable property in said City a direct annual irrepealable tax sufficient for that purpose. City of Oshkosh Finance Department 215 Church Ave., PO Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903 -1130 (920) 236 -5080 (920) 236 -5039 FAX OlHKOIH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Peggy Steeno, Finance Director DATE: August 5, 2010 RE: Approve Initial Resolution/Not Exceeding $22,000,000 General Purpose Obligation Bonds Authorize $9,210,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2010A Authorize $4,155,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2010 B Authorize $13,045,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010C Authorize $8,450,000 General Obligation Taxable Refunding Bonds, Series 2010D BACKGROUND Following the approval of the following: the 2010 Capital Improvement Program (November of 2009); the reimbursement resolution (December of 2009), allowing projects to get underway; and the initial borrowing resolutions (February of 2010), stating the intent to borrow as well as authorizing staff to proceed with the preparation and documentation needed to sell the bonds and receive the proceeds, this is the final step in the 2010 borrowing process. As noted in the February Council communication, the sale of the bonds (excluding the refunding bonds — Series C and D) needed to occur at least 30 days after the initial resolution was authorized, and this requirement has been satisfied. Regarding the initial resolution for the refunding bonds, an initial resolution, as identified above, is required, however there is no 30 notice to electors required due to the nature of the borrowing. Since the funds are already obligations of the City, it is the Council's option to refinance to obtain cost savings through lower interest rates. As is normal practice, the bonds and notes, as outlined above, will be offered to the public through competitive sales at 9 AM and 10 AM on Tuesday, August 10` Following the sale, and tentative agreement, the sale and its terms will be presented for approval to the Council at Tuesday's meeting. As was available last year for the first time, the City is able to utilize part of the Federal Economic Stimulus Package to potentially receive better interest rates than would be achieved through the normal tax - exempt borrowing. The City is planning to offer the bonds in the traditional, tax - exempt manner, as well as offer them as `Build America Bonds' which are taxable bonds (requiring a higher interest rate be paid by the City), and then receive a subsidy of 35% of the total interest cost from the Federal Government over the entire life of the loans. As such, we are requesting bids on both methods to secure the best financing option available. ANALYSIS Series A & B While we will not be able to do an exact dollar analysis of the bids until they are received on Tuesday, August 10 the information below will provide details of the typical tax - exempt borrowing as well as the Build America Bond option. Tax- Exempt Borrowing Option — This is the traditionally lowest cost option to obtain funds for public use. There are certain requirements that the City must follow in executing the bonds which include the proper use, recordkeeping, and accountability of the funds. While market conditions and specific bidders dictate what the interest rates are, and we will not have the exact numbers until next week, we do know the current interest rate for this type of offering is in the range of 3.50% - 4.00 %. This range is based on recent public borrowings that have taken place. This is a very acceptable range in light of current economic conditions. It is about average when compared to the ten year history of interest rates for this purpose. Build America Bonds — This is a relatively new option presented by the Federal Government in 2009 and is only available for new money issues (not allowed for refunding /refinancing issues). The option to use this method is only available for the years 2009 and 2010, unless extended by the Federal Government. While this is a not a longstanding option, the City did engage in this type of borrowing in 2009 and received an average interest rate of 3.21 % on our 20 year bonds. Recent sales of bonds of a similar type have come in in the range of 4.75% - 5.25% prior to the subsidy being applied, and 3.00% - 3.50% after the subsidy was applied. As you can see, the effect yields of 3.00% - 3.50% after the subsidy is applied would be more favorable to the City than the interest rates of 3.50% - 4.00% under the traditional, tax - exempt method. The way the subsidy works is that the City needs to file a `Return for Credit Payments to Issuers of Qualified Bonds' form with the Department of Treasury 45 days before each interest payment is due for the life of the loan (two times per year). The Department of Treasury then remits the subsidy to the City before the interest payment is due so that the City can make the full interest payment. While there was some initial skepticism about whether the Federal Government could or would try to change the rules and discontinue the subsidy payments at some point during the life of the loan, the Department of Treasury has responded that although this is an appropriation, `the law treats the payments like a tax refund, and that they should be seen as an "ongoing, kind of permanent appropriation." While this isn't an explicit guarantee, it is completely in line with the spirit of this option, and I believe that it is worth the slight risk in the future if the savings are evident due to a difference in the interest rates. As a follow up, if the Federal Government would ever consider a change, the City would have the option of refinancing the obligation to a tax - exempt borrowing as it still meets that criteria. Series C & D Refunding Bonds — Theses bonds are being proposed as a cost savings measure only. Since the rates are much more favorable than when the original bonds were issued, as explained in detail in the resolutions, the estimated savings will be over $1.4 Million over the remaining life of the bonds. FISCAL IMPACT The above amounts will be added to the City's outstanding debt obligations, with the Notes, $4,155,000, being paid off over ten years, the Bonds, $9,210, 000, being paid off over twenty years, and the Refunding Bonds, $21,495,000, being paid off within the next 14 years. In addition, the remaining amount owing on the original obligations that are being refunded will be subtracted from the City's outstanding debt obligations. The interest savings on the refunding issues, compared to the original obligations, are expected to be over $1.4 Million over the next 14 years. The interest expense (cost of borrowing the funds) that will be incurred over the life of the obligations will be determined next Tuesday, and presented to the Council at the meeting that evening. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of all of the above noted resolutions. Please note that the new money issues, Series A and B, have been prepared for the Build America Bonds. If more favorable bids are received on the Tax- Exempt Option, new resolutions will be completed and presented on Tuesday. Respectfully Submitted, pu,� � Peggy Steeno Finance Director Approved: Mark Rohloff City Manager