debt service payments. k. Reimbursement Resolution –A Reimbursement Resolution must be adopted by the City Council if it is anticipated that any costs will be funded prior to closing of the corresponding debt issuance. The Reimbursement Resolution must indicate the maximum amount that can be funded, the source of cash for the funding and that if the corresponding debt issue does not close, the City Council is willing to approve the appropriation of funding for the advance. No exceptions are allowed without formal City Council approval. l. Budgeting Debt Service – The budgeted amount shall be for gross debt service. 5.2. Fixed Interest versus Variable Interest The City primarily issues fixed rate bonds to protect the City against interest rate risk. The City has the option to issue variable rate bonds and may, if market conditions, strategic and financial goals warrant, consider such a structure. Commercial paper notes, due to their short-term maturities (270 days or less), are treated as variable rate obligations. The Managing Director of Finance must present a recommendation for utilization of variable rate debt to the City Manager for approval. 5.3. Summary Bonds are generally issued with an average life of 20 years or less for general obligation bonds, certificates of obligation and revenue bonds, but may be greater for some projects such as landfills and major utility facilities whose lives are greater than 20 years. Typically, interest is paid in the first fiscal year after a bond sale, and principal is paid no later than the second fiscal year after the debt is issued. Call provisions for bond issues shall be made as short as possible consistent with the lowest interest cost to the City. The targeted maximum length to call is 10 years. However, the City may opt for a call date longer than 10 years in order to achieve the necessary goals of the particular issue. 6.0 FINANCINGALTERNATIVES The City may choose to issue debt under any provision allowed for and permitted by state statute. Although debt is an obligation to be repaid, it can assume many forms. The form and character of debt is typically determined by the nature of the funding source and nature of the asset to be purchased or improved. It is the City’s intent to develop a level of cash and debt funded capital improvement projects that provide the citizens with the desired amount of City services at the lowest cost. The City may utilize several types of municipal debt obligations to finance long-term capital assets. Long-term debt is only issued to finance the acquisition and/or construction of capital assets unless otherwise decreed by court order or adjudicated settlement. Long-term debt financing shall never be used to fund operating or maintenance costs. In determining the type of security for financing an improvement or purchase of a capital asset, the City may consider the following types and form of debt, but is not limited to the following: 6.1 General obligations bonds (“GOB”) – Utilized for strategic initiatives, unique projects and capital programs that will impact the debt service tax rate. General obligations bonds (“GOB”) will be used if the following criteria are met: a. The size of the total issuance may result in an impact to the debt service tax rate. b. The project is a non-essential strategic initiatives or project. c. Funds will be used for new and expanded facilities, major repair/renovations to existing facilities, and quality-of-life projects. d. Useful lives of assets acquired will be fifteen (15) years or more; or will extend the useful
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