Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015 BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Notes To Financial Statements - Note 25 Commitments and Contingencies

Notes to the Financial Statements

June 30, 2015

Note 25 Commitments and Contingencies

A. Commitments
Primary Government
Commitments are defined as "existing arrangements to enter into future transactions or events, such as long-term contractual obligations with suppliers for future purchases at specified prices and sometimes at specified quantities." As of June 30, 2015, the Departments of Transportation and Construction Services had contractual commitments of approximately $3,689 million for infrastructure and other construction projects. Additionally, other commitments were approximately as follows:

School construction and alteration grant program $3,129 million.

Clean and drinking water loan programs $652 million.

Various programs and services $3,901 million.

All commitments are expected to be funded by federal grants, bond proceeds, and other resources.

Component Units
As of December 31, 2014, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority had mortgage loan commitments of approximately $137.8 million.

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.

As of June 30, 2015, the State reported an escheat liability of $395.6 million in the General fund. This liability represents an estimate of the amount of escheat property likely to be refunded to claimants in the future. However, there is a reasonable possibility that the State could be liable for an additional amount of escheat refunds of $324.3 million in the future.

Grant amounts received or receivable by the State from federal agencies are subject to audit and adjustment by these agencies. Any disallowed claims, including amounts already collected, may constitute a liability of the applicable funds. The amount, if any, of expenditures that may be disallowed by the federal government cannot be determined at this time, although the State expects such amounts, if any, to be immaterial.

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 nor revenue sources of the State.

D. Lease/Lease Back Transaction
On September 30, 2003 the State executed a U.S. Lease-to-Service Contract of Rolling Stock Agreement (Agreement) whereby the state entered into a head lease of certain rolling stock consisting of rail coaches and locomotives to statutory trusts established for the benefit of three equity investors. Simultaneously, the State executed sublease agreements to lease back the rolling stock in order to allow the State to have continued use of the property. The terms of the head leases are for periods ranging from 40 years to 67 years, expiring through March 2071, while the subleases have terms ranging from 18 years to 28 years, expiring through January 2032. At the end of the respective sublease terms, the State will have the option to purchase the statutory trusts'
interest in the rolling stock for an aggregate fixed price.

Proceeds from the prepayment of the head lease rents were paid to debt payment undertakers and custodians in amounts sufficient, together with investment earning thereon, to provide for all future obligations of the State under the sublease agreements and the end of lease term purchase options. Although it is remote that the State will be required to make any additional payments under the sublease, the State is and shall remain liable for all of its obligations under the subleases. The aggregate remaining commitment under the subleases totaled approximately $39 million at June 30, 2015.

The State is obligated to insure and maintain the rolling stock. In addition, if an equity investor suffers a loss of tax deductions or incurs additional taxable income as a result of certain circumstances, as defined in the Agreement, then the State must indemnify the equity investor for the additional tax incurred, including interest and penalties thereon. The State has the right to terminate the sublease early under certain circumstances and upon payment of a termination value to the equity investors. If the State chooses early termination, then the termination value would be paid from funds available from the debt payment undertakers and the custodians, and if such amounts are insufficient, then the State would be required to pay the difference.