Note 23 Commitments and Contingencies

A. Commitments

At June 30, 2003, the State, including its component units, had the following outstanding commitments:

1. Infrastructure (highways, roads, etc.) and other construction contracts and miscellaneous contracts with various vendors totaling approximately $1,884.3 million of which $1,145.7 million is expected to be reimbursed by federal grants or other payments.
2. School construction and alteration grants with various towns for $3,272 million and interest costs of $235 million for a total of $3,507 million. Funding for these projects is expected to come from bond sales.
3. Loan commitments, mortgage and grant programs, and loan guarantees total approximately $609.3 million. Funding for these programs is expected to come from bond sales.
4. The State has authorized a loan to the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority ( a component unit) of up to $115 million to support the repayment of the Authority's debt for one of its facilities and to minimize the amount of tipping fee increases chargeable to the towns which use the facility. As of June 30, 2003, the Authority had drawn $2 million on these funds.
5. Under a settlement reached between the parties in the Sheff vs. O'Neill lawsuit, the State is committed to spend $45 million, exclusive of school renovation/construction costs, over the next four years to open two new magnet schools in the Hartford area each year and to substantially increase the voluntary inter-district busing program in the Hartford area.

B. Contingent Liabilities

The State entered into a contractual agreement with H.N.S. Management Company, Inc. and ATE Management and Service Company, Inc. to manage and operate the bus transportation system for the State. The State shall pay all expenses of the system including all past, present and future pension plan liabilities of the personnel employed by the system and any other fees as agreed upon. When the agreement is terminated the State shall assume or make arrangements for the assumption of all the existing obligations of the management companies including but not limited to all past, present and future pension plan liabilities and obligations.

In 2002 the City of Waterbury issued $97.5 million of General Obligation Special Capital Reserve Fund Bonds. These bonds are secured by a Special Capital Reserve Fund for which the State may be contingently liable as explained previously in Note 17 - Component Units.

C. Litigation

The State, its units and employees are parties to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in government operations. Most of these legal proceedings are not, in the opinion of the Attorney General, likely to have a material adverse impact on the State's financial position.

There are, however, several legal proceedings which, if decided adversely against the State, may require the State to make material future expenditures for expanded services or capital facilities or may impair future revenue sources. It is neither possible to determine the outcome of these proceedings nor to estimate the possible effects adverse decisions may have on the future expenditures or revenue sources of the State.

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