Note 17 Long-Term Notes and Bonded Debt

a. Economic Recovery Notes

In December 2002, $219.2 million of General Obligation Economic Recovery Notes were issued to fund the deficit for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. As of June 30 2004, the amount of Economic Recovery Notes outstanding was $273.2 million. These notes mature on various dates through 2008 and bear interest rates from 2.0% to 4.0%.

Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on economic recovery notes outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

b. Primary Government - Governmental Activities

General Obligation Bonds

General Obligation bonds are those bonds that are paid out of the revenues of the General fund and that are supported by the full faith and credit of the State. General obligation bonds outstanding and bonds authorized but unissued at June 30, 2004, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

Future amounts (in thousands) needed to pay principal and interest on general obligation bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

Transportation Related Bonds

Transportation related bonds include special tax obligation bonds and general obligation bonds that are paid out of revenues pledged or earned in the Transportation Fund. The revenue pledged or earned in the Transportation Fund to pay special tax obligation bonds is transferred to the debt service fund for retirement of principal and interest.

Transportation related bonds outstanding and bonds authorized but unissued at June 30, 2004, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

Future amounts (in thousands) required to pay principal and interest on transportation related bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

Variable-Rate Demand Bonds

As of June 30, 2004, variable-rate demand bonds included in bonded debt were as follows (amounts in thousands).

State entered into various Remarketing and Standby Bond Purchase agreements with certain brokerage firms and banks upon the issuance of the bonds.

The bonds were issued bearing a weekly interest rate, which is determined by the State's remarketing agents. The State has the option of changing at any time the weekly interest rate on the bonds to another interest rate, such as a flexible rate or a daily rate. Bonds bearing interest at the weekly rate are subject to purchase at the option of the bondholder at a purchase price equal to principal plus accrued interest, if any, on a minimum seven days' notice of tender to the State's agent. In addition, the bonds are subject to mandatory purchase upon (1) conversion from the weekly interest rate to another interest rate and (2) substitution or expiration of the Standby Bond Purchase agreements. The State's remarketing agent is responsible for using its best efforts to remarket bonds properly tendered for purchase by bondholders from time to time. The State is required to pay the Remarketing agents a quarterly fee of .05 percent per annum of the outstanding principal amount of the bonds.

The Standby Bond Purchase agreements require the banks to purchase any unremarketed bonds bearing the weekly interest rate for a price not to exceed the amount of bond principal and accrued interest, if any. The State is required to pay the banks a quarterly fee ranging from .065 percent to .20 percent per annum of the outstanding principal amount of the bonds plus interest. These fees would be increased if the credit rating for the bond insurers was to be downgraded, suspended, or withdrawn.

The Standby Bond Purchase agreements expire as follows:

1990 STO expires in the year 2005 and could be extended for another five years,
1997 GO expires in the year 2004 and could be extended annually for another year,
2000 STO expires in the year 2014 and could be extended for another seven years,
2001 GO expires in the year 2008, and
2003 STO expires in the year 2008 and could be extended for another five years.

These agreements could be terminated at an earlier date if certain termination events described in the agreements were to occur.

Interest Rate Swaps

Objective of the swaps

As a means to lower its borrowing costs, when compared against fixed-rate bonds at the time of issuance, the State has entered six separate pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swaps at a cost less than what the State would have paid to issue fixed-rate debt. Two of the swaps were executed in December 1990, one was executed in June 2001 and the other three were executed in January 2003.

Terms, fair values, and credit risk

The terms, including the fair values and credit ratings of the outstanding swaps as of June 30, 2004, are as follows. The notional amount of the swaps matches the principal amount of the associated debt. The State's swap agreements, except for the June 2001 swap, contain scheduled reductions to outstanding notional amounts that are expected to approximately follow scheduled or anticipated reductions in the associated debt. For the June 2001 swap, the swap agreement and associated debt are non-amortizing and mature on June, 2012.

Fair value

As of June 30, 2004, the 2003 swaps had a positive fair value because interest rates have increased since January 2003; the 1990 swaps had a negative fair value because interest rates have declined since 1990. The negative fair values may be countered by reductions in total interest payments required under the variable-rate bonds, creating lower synthetic interest rates. Because the coupons on the State's variable-rate bonds adjust to changing interest rates, the bonds do not have corresponding fair value increases. The fair values were estimated using the zero-coupon method. This method calculates the future net settlement payment required under the swaps, assuming that the current forward rates implied by the yield curve correctly anticipate future spot interest rates. These payments are then discounted using the spot rates implied by the current yield curve for hypothetical zero-coupon bonds due on the date each future net settlement on the swaps.

As of June 30, 2004, the State had a minor exposure to credit risk on the 2003 swaps, but it had no credit risk exposure on the other outstanding swaps because the swaps had negative fair values. However, should interest rates change and the fair values of the swaps become positive, the State would be exposed to credit risk in the amount of the swaps' fair value.

The swap agreements contain varying collateral agreements with the counterparties. All three of the swap agreements executed in 2004 require collateralization of the fair value of the swap in cash or government securities should the counterparty's credit rating fall below Aa3 as issued by Moody's Investors Service or AA- as issued by Standard & Poor's Ratings or Fitch Ratings. One of the swaps executed in 1990 requires collateral of cash or securities if the counterparty credit rating falls below A1/A+. The other swap agreements do not have any provisions for posting of collateral. The State is not required to post collateral for any of the swaps.

Because, the State has not entered into more than one derivative transaction with any one counterparty, master netting agreements have not been needed.

All of the six swaps are executed with different counterparties. The largest, approximately 34 percent of the notional amount of swaps outstanding, is held with one counterparty, rated Aa2/AA+. One of the December 1990 swaps, approximately 10% of the notional amount of swaps outstanding, is held with the lowest rated counterparty, rated A3/BBB. All other swaps are held with separate counterparties who are rated Aa1/AA or better.

Basis Risk

The State's variable-rate bond coupon payments are equivalent to the BMA index rate, or the CPI plus 1.43% rate (2001 GO bonds only). For those swaps for which the State receives a variable-rate payment other than BMA or CPI, the State is exposed to basis risk should the relationship between LIBOR and BMA converge. If a change occurs that results in the rates' moving to convergence, the expected cost savings may not be realized. As of June 30, 2004, the BMA rate was 1.06 percent, whereas 65 percent of LIBOR was 0.72 percent. The State recognizes this basis risk by including an amount for basis risk in its debt service budget. For fiscal 2004, the state budgeted $1,500,000 in basis risk for all six swap agreements.

Termination Risk

The State or the counterparty may terminate any of the swaps if the other party fails to perform under the terms of the contract. If any swap is terminated, the associated variable-rate bonds would no longer carry synthetic interest rates. Also, if at the time of termination the swap has a negative fair value, the State would be liable to the counterparty for a payment equal to the swap's fair value. Under the 2003 swap agreements, the State has up to 270 days to fund any required termination payment. Under the 1990 swap agreements, the State may fund any required termination payment over a five-year period.

Rollover Risk

Because all of the swap agreements terminate when the associated debt is fully paid, the State is only exposed to rollover risk if an early termination occurs. Upon an early termination, the State will not realize the synthetic rate offered by the swaps on the underlying debt issues.

Swap Payments and Associated Debt

Using rates as of June 30, 2004, debt service requirements of the State's outstanding variable-rate bonds and net swap payments are as follows (amounts in thousands). As rates vary, variable-rate bond interest payments and net swap payments will vary.

c. Primary Government - Business-Type Activities

Revenue Bonds

Revenue bonds are those bonds that are paid out of resources pledged in the enterprise funds and component units.

Enterprise funds' revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

Bradley Airport has issued various revenue bonds to finance costs of improvements to the airport. As of June 30, 2004, the following bonds were outstanding:

1. Airport Revenue Refunding Bonds in the amount of $42.1 million. These bonds were issued in October, 1992, to redeem the 1982 revenue bonds, and are secured by and payable solely from the gross operating revenues generated by the State from the operations of the airport and other receipts, funds or monies pledged in the bond indenture.
2. Bradley International Airport Revenue Bonds in the amount of $191.2 million and Bradley International Airport Refunding Bonds in the amount of $18.7 million. Both bond series are secured by and payable solely from the gross operating revenues generated by the state from the operation of the airport and other receipts, funds or monies pledged in the bond indenture.

In November 1996 and in October 2000, the State issued $100 million and $124.1 million of Second Injury Special Assessment Revenue Bonds, respectively. The bonds were issued to reduce long-term liabilities of the fund by settling claims on a one-time lump sum basis. Additionally, the bond indenture allows for the periodic issuance of subordinated bond anticipation notes (BANs) in the form of commercial paper.

In 1994, the State of Connecticut began issuing Clean Water Fund revenue bonds. The proceeds of these bonds are to be used to provide funds to make loans to Connecticut municipalities for use in connection with the financing or refinancing of wastewater treatment projects.

Bradley Parking Garage bonds were issued in 2000 in the amount of $53.8 million to build a parking garage at the airport.

In 2004, the State of Connecticut issued $205.3 million of Special Obligation Rate Reduction Bonds. These bonds were issued to sustain for two years the funding of energy conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by providing money to the State's General Fund.

Future amounts (in thousands) needed to pay principal and interest on revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

d. Component Units

Component units' revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

Revenue bonds issued by the component units do not constitute a liability or debt of the State. The State is only contingently liable for those bonds as discussed below.

Connecticut Development Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance such projects as the acquisition of land or the construction of buildings, and the purchase and installation of machinery, equipment, and pollution control facilities. The Authority finances these projects through its Self-Sustaining Bond Program and Umbrella Program. Under the Umbrella Program, bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004 were $4.8 million. Assets totaling $3.4 million are pledged under the terms of the bond resolution for the payment of principal and interest on these bonds until such time as it is determined that there are surplus funds as defined in the bond resolution. Bonds issued under the Self-Sustaining Bond Program are discussed in the no-commitment debt section of this note. In addition, the Authority had $38.0 million in general obligation bonds outstanding at year-end. These bonds were issued to finance the lease of an entertainment/sports facility and the purchase of a hockey team.

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance the purchase, development and construction of housing for low and moderate-income families and persons throughout the State. The Authority has issued bonds under a bond resolution dated 9/27/72 and an indenture dated 9/25/95. As of December 31, 2003, bonds outstanding under the bond resolution and the indenture were $3,154.0 million and $45.6 million, respectively. According to the bond resolution, the following assets of the Authority are pledged for the payment of the bond principal and interest (1) the proceeds from the sale of bonds, (2) all mortgage repayments with respect to long-term mortgage and construction loans financed from the Authority's general fund, and (3) all monies and securities of the Authority's general and capital reserve funds. The capital reserve fund is required to be maintained at an amount at least equal to the amount of principal, sinking fund installments, and interest maturing and becoming due in the next succeeding calendar year ($261.5 million at 12/31/03) on all outstanding bonds. As of December 31, 2003, the Authority has entered into interest rate swap agreements for $730.6 million of its variable rate bonds. These agreements are similar in nature to agreements discussed in the interest rate swaps section of this note.

Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance the design, development and construction of resources recovery and recycling facilities and landfills throughout the State. These bonds are paid solely from the revenues generated from the operations of the projects and other receipts, accounts and monies pledged in the bond indentures.

Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority's revenue bonds are issued to provide loans to students, their parents, and institutions of higher education to assist in the financing of the cost of higher education. These loans are issued through the Authority's Bond fund. According to the bond resolutions, the Authority internally accounts for each bond issue in separate funds, and additionally, the Bond fund includes individual funds and accounts as defined by each bond resolution.

Each Authority has established special capital reserve funds that secure all the outstanding bonds of the Authority at year-end, except as discussed next. These funds are usually maintained at an amount equal to next year's bond debt service requirements. The State may be contingently liable to restore any deficiencies that may exist in the funds in any one year in the event that the Authority is unable to do so. For the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, the amount of bonds outstanding at year-end that were secured by the special capital reserve funds was $178.7 million.

Future amounts (in thousands) needed to pay principal and interest on revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were as follows:

No-commitment debt

Under the Self-Sustaining Bond program, The Connecticut Development Authority issues revenue bonds to finance such projects as described previously in the component unit section of this note. These bonds are paid solely from payments received from participating companies (or from proceeds of the sale of the specific projects in the event of default) and do not constitute a debt or liability of the Authority or the State. Thus, the balances are not included in the Authority's financial statements. Total bonds outstanding for the year ended June 30, 2004 were $993.2 million.

The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority has issued several bonds to fund the construction of waste processing facilities by independent contractors/operators. These bonds are payable from a pledge of revenues derived primarily under lease or loan arrangements between the Authority and the operators. Letters of credit secure some of these bonds. The Authority does not become involved in the construction activities or the repayment of the debt (other than the portion allocable to Authority purposes). In the event of a default, neither the authority nor the State guarantees payment of the debt, except for the State contingent liability discussed below. Thus, the assets and liabilities that relate to these bond issues are not included in the Authority's financial statements. Total bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004 were $203.9 million. Of this amount, $61.5 million was secured by a special capital reserve fund.

The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority has issued special obligation bonds for which the principal and interest are payable solely from the revenues of the institutions. Starting in 1999, the Authority elected to remove these bonds and related restricted assets from its financial statements, except for restricted assets for which the Authority has a fiduciary responsibility. Total special obligation bonds outstanding at June 30, 2004, were $4,666.7 million, of which $374.4 million was secured by special capital reserve funds.

The State may be contingently liable for those bonds that are secured by special capital reserve funds as discussed previously in this section.

e. Debt Refundings

During the year, the State issued $1,967.5 million of general obligation and special tax obligation refunding bonds with an average interest rate of 4.35% to advance refund $1,996.8 million of general obligation and special tax obligation refunding bonds with an average interest rate of 5.15%. The proceeds of the refunding bonds were used to purchase U.S. Government securities, which were deposited in an irrevocable trust with an escrow agent to provide for all future payments on the refunded bonds. Thus, the refunded bonds are considered defeased and the liability for those bonds have been removed from the statement of net assets. The reacquisition price exceeded the carrying amount of the old debt by $165 million. This amount is being netted against the new debt and amortized over the life of the new or old debt, whichever is shorter.

The State advance refunded these bonds to reduce its total debt service payments over the next fifteen years by $115.7 million and to obtain an economic gain (difference between the present values of the debt service payments of the old and new bonds) of $93.9 million. As of June 30, 2004, $3,660.8 million of outstanding general obligation, special tax obligation, and revenue bonds are considered defeased.

Basic Section |  Table of Contents  | Index of Comptroller's Reports  | Comptroller's Home Page