Notes to the Financial Statements
June 30, 2014
Note 18 Long-Term Notes and Bonded Debt
a. Economic Recovery Notes
In December 2009, Public Act 09-2 authorized the issuance $915.8 million of
General Obligation Economic Recovery Notes which were used to fund a major
portion of the State's general fund deficit at that time. In October 2013, a
portion of these notes were refunded when the State issued $314.3 million of
General Obligation Refunding Notes which were issued in four series as
variable-rate remarketed obligations (VRO) that ultimately mature on January 1,
2018. Any series of these notes may be converted by the State at any time from
the VRO rate, which is determined by the remarketing agent on a daily basis, to
another interest rate mode - such as an adjusted SIFMA rate mode.
If the State decides to convert the interest rate mode, each holder is required to tender their notes for conversion while the State has agreed to make available supplementary information describing the notes following the conversion. If any tendered VRO's of a series are not successfully remarketed they may continue to be owned by their respective holders until the VRO Special Mandatory Redemption Date. That series of notes in that case would bear interest at a higher stepped-up rate. The liquidity available to purchase tendered notes is only provided by remarketing resources and the State's general fund. In the opinion of management, the higher cost precludes the likelihood of conversion by the State. The original VRO interest rate modes remain in effect for all four series at the end of the fiscal year.
Total Economic Recovery and VRO Notes outstanding at June 30, 2014 were $580.8 million. The notes mature on various dates through 2018 and bear interest rates from 3.0 to 5.0 percent. Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on these notes outstanding at June 30, 3014 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ending | |||
---|---|---|---|
June 30, | Principal | Interest | Total |
2015 | $122,110 | $24,523 | $146,633 |
2016 | 147,220 | 16,647 | 163,867 |
2017 | 154,945 | 8,181 | 163,126 |
2018 | 156,500 | 3,521 | 160,021 |
Total | $580,775 | $52,872 | $633,647 |
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, 2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Final | Original | Authorized | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maturity | Interest | Amount | But | |
Purpose of Bonds | Dates | Rates | Outstanding | Unissued |
Capital Improvements | 2014-2034 | 1.00-5.632% | $2,473,870 | $487,370 |
School Construction | 2014-2033 | 1.00-5.750% | 4,734,566 | 302,800 |
Municipal & Other | ||||
Grants & Loans | 2014-2032 | 0.47-5.632% | 1,265,725 | 991,951 |
Housing Assistance | 2014-2031 | 0.28-5.460% | 265,265 | 154,919 |
Elimination of Water | ||||
Pollution | 2014-2027 | 2.91-5.09% | 197,370 | 301,208 |
General Obligation | ||||
Refunding | 2014-2025 | 1.00-5.50% | 3,325,453 | - |
GAAP Conversion | 2014-2027 | 1.00-5.00% | 560,430 | 151,500 |
Pension Obligation | 2014-2032 | 4.40-6.27% | 2,254,378 | - |
Miscellaneous | 2014-2038 | 3.00-6.00% | 125,460 | 38,461 |
15,202,517 | $2,428,209 | |||
Accretion-Various Capital Appreciation Bonds | 79,062 | |||
Total | $15,281,579 |
Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on as
General obligation bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014, were as follows (amounts
in thousands):
Year Ending | |||
---|---|---|---|
June 30, | Principal | Interest | Total |
2015 | $1,090,618 | $692,279 | $1,782,897 |
2016 | 1,086,029 | 654,653 | 1,740,682 |
2017 | 1,041,148 | 610,581 | 1,651,729 |
2018 | 1,035,122 | 567,430 | 1,602,552 |
2019 | 986,362 | 519,567 | 1,505,929 |
2020-2024 | 4,437,066 | 2,161,619 | 6,598,685 |
2025-2029 | 3,549,737 | 1,107,667 | 4,657,404 |
2030-2034 | 1,967,750 | 214,859 | 2,182,609 |
2035-2039 | 8,685 | 1,083 | 9,768 |
Total | $15,202,517 | $6,529,738 | $21,732,255 |
Transportation Related Bonds
Transportation related bonds include special tax 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, 2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Final | Original | Authorized | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maturity | Interest | Amount | But | |
Purpose of Bonds | Dates | Rates | Outstanding | Unissued |
Infrastructure | ||||
Improvements | 2014-2033 | 2.00-5.740% | $3,771,260 | $2,967,827 |
3,771,260 | $2,967,827 | |||
Accretion-Various Capital Appreciation Bonds | - | |||
Total | $3,771,260 |
Future amounts required to pay principal and interest on transportation related bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ending | |||
---|---|---|---|
June 30, | Principal | Interest | Total |
2015 | $269,845 | $178,988 | $448,833 |
2016 | 246,845 | 167,619 | 414,464 |
2017 | 230,010 | 156,538 | 386,548 |
2018 | 233,840 | 145,557 | 379,397 |
2019 | 227,420 | 134,383 | 361,803 |
2020-2024 | 1,097,050 | 510,855 | 1,607,905 |
2025-2029 | 963,495 | 252,448 | 1,215,943 |
2030-2034 | 502,755 | 49,760 | 552,515 |
$3,771,260 | $1,596,148 | $5,367,408 |
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,
2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Final | Original | Amount | |
---|---|---|---|
Maturity | Interest | Outstanding | |
Funds | Dates | Rates | (000's) |
Uconn | 2014-2030 | 1.5-5.5% | $125,165 |
State Universities | 2014-2036 | 2.0-6.0% | 344,181 |
Clean Water | 2014-2031 | 1.0-5.0% | 672,757 |
Drinking Water | 2014-2028 | 2.0-5.0.% | 35,303 |
Bradley Parking Garage | 2014-2024 | 6.5-6.6% | 35,275 |
Total Revenue Bonds | 1,212,681 | ||
Plus/(Less) premiums and discounts: | |||
Uconn | 22,370 | ||
Clean Water | 60,277 | ||
Other | 1,901 | ||
Revenue Bonds, net | $1,297,229 |
The University of Connecticut has issued student fee revenue bonds to finance the costs of buildings, improvements and renovations to certain revenue-generating capital projects. Revenues used for payments on the bonds are derived from various fees charged to students.
The Connecticut State University System has issued revenue bonds that finance the costs of auxiliary enterprise buildings, improvements and renovations to certain student housing related facilities. Revenues used for payments on the bonds are derived from various fees charged to students.
In 2000, Bradley Parking Garage bonds were issued in the amount of $53.8 million to build a parking garage at the airport. As of June 30, 2014, $35.3 million of these bonds are outstanding.
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. Details on these agreements are disclosed under the separately issued audited financial statements of the fund.
Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ending | |||
---|---|---|---|
June 30, | Principal | Interest | Total |
2015 | $104,868 | $53,758 | $158,626 |
2016 | 108,715 | 49,000 | 157,715 |
2017 | 92,303 | 44,724 | 137,027 |
2018 | 86,065 | 40,805 | 126,870 |
2019 | 73,670 | 37,142 | 110,812 |
2020-2024 | 379,335 | 130,421 | 509,756 |
2025-2029 | 251,725 | 53,401 | 305,126 |
2030-2034 | 113,910 | 10,402 | 124,312 |
2035-2039 | 2,090 | 85 | 2,175 |
Total | $1,212,681 | $419,738 | $1,632,419 |
d. Component Units
Component units' revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014, were as follows
(amounts in thousands):
Final | Amount | ||
---|---|---|---|
Maturity | Interest | Outstanding | |
Component Unit | Date | Rates | (000's) |
CT Housing Finance Authority | 2014-2055 | 0.17-5.50% | $3,498,352 |
CT Higher Education | |||
Supplemental Loan Authority | 2014-2035 | 1.70-7.00% | 173,205 |
CT Airport Authority | 2014-2035 | %/1 mth libor | 135,600 |
CT Regional | |||
Development Authority | 2014-2034 | 1.00-7.00% | 91,970 |
UConn Foundation | 2014-2029 | 1.90-5.00% | 25,775 |
CT Innovations Inc. | 2014-2020 | 4.90-5.25% | 5,020 |
Total Revenue Bonds | 3,929,922 | ||
Plus/(Less) premiums and discounts: | |||
CHFA | 10,811 | ||
CHESLA | 1,646 | ||
CRDA | (324) | ||
Revenue Bonds, net | $3,942,055 |
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.
Following the merger of the operations of the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated (CII) assumed responsibility for the former authority's Special Obligation Industrial revenue bonds. The bonds were issued to finance such projects as the acquisition of land, the construction of buildings, the purchase and installation of machinery, equipment, and pollution control facilities. These activities are financed under its Self-Sustaining Bond Program which is described in the no-commitment debt section of this note. In addition, CII has $5.0 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, a special needs indenture dated 9/25/95, and other bond resolutions dated October 2009. As of December 31, 2013, bonds outstanding under the bond resolution, the indenture, and other bond resolutions were $3,042 million, $62.4 million, and $404.4 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 resolution and indenture capital reserve funds are 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 any succeeding calendar year on all outstanding bonds. The required reserves are $231.2 million per the resolution and $4.6 million per the indenture at 12/31/13. As of December 31, 2013, the Authority has entered into interest rate swap agreements for $1,039 million of its variable rate bonds. Details on these agreements are disclosed under the separately issued audited financial statements of the Authority.
Materials, Innovation, and Recycling 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.
Capital Reserves
Each Authority has established special capital reserve funds that secure
all the outstanding bonds of the Authority at year-end. 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.
The Capital Region Development Authority revenue bonds are issued to provide sufficient funds for carrying out its purposes. The bonds are not debt of the State of Connecticut. However, the Authority and the State have entered into a contract for financial assistance, pursuant to which the State will be obligated to pay principal and interest on the bonds in an amount not to exceed $9.0 million in any calendar year. The bonds are secured by energy fees from the central utility plant and by parking fees subject to the Travelers Indemnity Company parking agreement.
Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on Component Unit revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ending | |||
---|---|---|---|
June 30, | Principal | Interest | Total |
2015 | $134,093 | $93,889 | $227,982 |
2016 | 125,243 | 91,359 | 216,602 |
2017 | 131,951 | 88,657 | 220,608 |
2018 | 132,103 | 93,521 | 225,624 |
2019 | 134,848 | 85,214 | 220,062 |
2020-2024 | 728,485 | 374,114 | 1,102,599 |
2025-2029 | 766,369 | 279,455 | 1,045,824 |
2030-2034 | 853,315 | 182,062 | 1,035,377 |
2035-2039 | 584,092 | 74,849 | 658,941 |
2040-2044 | 257,959 | 43,126 | 301,085 |
2045-2049 | 55,360 | 36,956 | 92,316 |
2050-2054 | 26,104 | 7,349 | 33,453 |
Total | $3,929,922 | $1,450,551 | $5,380,473 |
No-commitment debt
Under the Self-Sustaining Bond program, acquired from its combination
with the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Inc.,
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, 2014 were $596.4 million.
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, 2014, were $8,141.3 million, of which $349.4 million was secured by special capital reserve funds.
The Materials, Innovation, and Recycling Authority have 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 for 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. The amount of these bonds outstanding at June 30, 2014 was $54.8 million.
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 fiscal year the State Issued General Obligation and Special
Tax Obligation bonds of $966.4 million at an average coupon interest rate of 4.0
percent to advance refund $1,046.6 million of General Obligation and Special Tax
Obligation bonds with an average coupon interest rate of 4.82 percent. The
proceeds of the refunding bonds were used to purchase U.S. Government securities
which were deposited into irrevocable trust accounts with an escrow agent to
provide for all future payments on the refunded bonds. Thus, the refunded bonds
were removed from the State's financial statements as they are considered
defeased.
Although the advance refunding resulted in a $26.4 million accounting loss, the State in effect reduced its aggregate fund level debt service payments by $108.1 million over the next 20 years. The present value of these savings represents an economic gain (difference between the present values of the debt service payments of the old and the new bonds) of $98.8 million. The above loss is reported as a deferred outflow of resources and amortized over the life of the new or old debt whichever is shorter.
In prior years, the State placed the proceeds of refunding bonds in irrevocable trust accounts to provide for all future debt service payments on defeased bonds. The assets of the trust accounts and the liability for defeased bonds are not included in the State's financial statements. As of June 30, 2014, the outstanding balance of bonds defeased in prior years was approximately $570.0 million.