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Mecklenburg County Debt Affordability

Mecklenburg County Debt Affordability. Presentation to the Board of County Commissioners June 24, 2008. Overview of Presentation . Overview of Debt Position Rating Agencies’ Perspective Benchmarks and Ratios Available Debt Capacity Recommendations & Next Steps. 2.

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Mecklenburg County Debt Affordability

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  1. Mecklenburg CountyDebt Affordability Presentation to the Board of County Commissioners June 24, 2008

  2. Overview of Presentation • Overview of Debt Position • Rating Agencies’ Perspective • Benchmarks and Ratios • Available Debt Capacity • Recommendations & Next Steps 2

  3. Overview of Debt Position • At June 30, 2008 the County’s outstanding debt will total $2,278,565,000. • $1.8 billion of General Obligation Bonds and $518 million of Certificates of Participation (COPs). 3

  4. Overview of Debt Position • Of that amount, $1.5 billion is fixed rate and $718 million is variable rate. • The total fixed portion includes $331 million of variable rate that was swapped to fixed rate. 4

  5. Overview of Debt Position The outstanding debt is for the following purposes 5

  6. Overview of Debt Position Authorized and unissued debt totals $718.5 million. 6

  7. Overview of Debt Position 7 The miscellaneous category represents the authorization for the school administrative facilities approved by the BOCC in 2007.

  8. Overview of Debt Position Projected Debt Service-Current Outstanding Debt 8

  9. Overview of Debt Position Projected Debt Service-Current Outstanding Debt & Authorized and Unissued 9

  10. Rating Agencies’ Perspective • Mecklenburg County is rated AAA by all three major credit rating agencies. • County was last rated in December 2007 and our AAA ratings were affirmed and given a stable outlook. • Despite the affirmation of the AAA rating and the overall strength of the credit, the rating reports indicate some areas of concern. 10

  11. Rating Agencies’ Perspective Fitch Ratings: “Fitch believes that economic growth will keep pace with the growing debt levels, resulting in a continued moderate debt burden; however it views with concern the county’s lack of compliance with its debt policies.” “Although Fitch generally views the adoption of such a policy favorably, it notes that the county is out of compliance with one of the targets; limiting its impact on credit strength.” “it views with concern the increased operating pressures posed by growing debt service payments. At 17.9% of fiscal 2007 actual expenditures and 20% of the county’s 2008 general fund operating budget, the county’s debt service payment is high and in excess of its 16% target.” 11

  12. Rating Agencies’ Perspective Moody’s Investor Service “Debt service equaled 18.3% of 2007 operational expenditures, above the county’s targeted ceiling of 16%. Fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 debt service is also projected to exceed the county’s target levels. The county continuing to exceed this fiscal target could have negative credit implications moving forward. Further, the ability of the county to manage debt service expenditures relative to its budget will be a key factor in future credit analysis.” 12

  13. Rating Agencies’ Perspective Expectation of Rating Agencies • Mecklenburg County will continue to issue debt to finance its capital program; • Mecklenburg County will update its debt policy to more accurately reflect its current and future debt positions; • Mecklenburg County will identify other sources of funding for its capital program. 13

  14. Benchmarks and Ratios Current Debt Policy Overall Debt Per Capita: measure will be maintained in the range of $3,500 to $3,600. Overall Debt as a Percentage of Assessed Valuation: ratio is targeted at 3.3% with a ceiling of 4%. Debt Service as a Percentage of Operational Budget: ratio is targeted at a level of 14% with a ceiling of 16%. Ten-year Payout Ratio: maintain a floor of 64% 14

  15. Benchmarks and Ratios Projected Ratios at June 30, 2008 15

  16. Benchmarks and Ratios Comparison to other “AAA” Counties 16

  17. Benchmarks and Ratios Comparison to other “AAA” Counties In North Carolina 17 Source: Moody’s MFRA data as of April 25, 2008

  18. Measuring Debt Capacity Determining Available Debt Capacity • Analyze capital needs • Project future assessed valuation, population growth, and operating expenditures. • Establish not-to-exceed limits for debt ratios 18

  19. Measuring Debt Capacity Projected Bond Sales 19

  20. Measuring Debt Capacity Projected Debt Service-Current Outstanding, Auth/Unissued, CIP & Available Capacity 20

  21. Measuring Debt Capacity Tax Rate Effect

  22. Measuring Debt Capacity Projected Outstanding Debt At the end of FY 2009, outstanding debt is projected to total $2.5 billion. This is expected to increase to $3.3 billion by the end of FY 2015.

  23. Measuring Debt Capacity Based on projected bond sales, debt per capita and debt service as a percentage of operational budget are out of compliance with the current debt policy. • Assessed Valuation – FY2009 is budget amount; growth rate of 20% in FY2010 and 3.7% growth annually thereafter. • Population – estimated to grow 3% annually. • General Fund Operating expenditures – project to increase 5.76% annually. 23

  24. Recommendations 1) Amend Debt Policy to include revised debt ratio targets:Increase overall debt per capita to $4,000.Increase debt service as a percentage of the operational budget to 22%. 24

  25. Recommendations 2) Increase pay-go funding for capital projectsOptions for pay-go funding Dedicate three pennies on the tax rate for capital projects.Dedicate all or a portion of 8% excess fund balance for capital projects.Dedicate proceeds from all county land sales for capital projects.Move forward with new ¼ cent sales tax and dedicate proceeds to capital projects. 25

  26. Recommendations If this pay-go strategy were to be in place for FY09, an estimated $101.3 million could be available to fund capital projects. 26 *Assumes the sale of Hal Marshall is completed in FY09

  27. Recommendations 3) Incorporate pay-go strategy into the County’s Debt Policy. 4) Cap borrowing at $350 million per year to stay within debt ratio targets. 27

  28. Next Steps • Based on feedback, a revised debt policy will be developed and presented to the Board no later than September.

  29. Questions? 29

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