Page 162 - Fort Worth City Budget 2019

Debt Service Funds

Ad Valorem Tax Supported Debt

Current property tax collections cover most of the general debt service assisted by delinquent property tax
collections. Other revenues include a transfer to the General Debt Service Fund from the Crime Control and
Prevention District (CCPD) for CCPD eligible activities and interest earnings. Projected revenues for debt service
are as follows:
Current Property Tax $ 97,425,882
Other Revenue $ 6,942,863

$ 104,368,745

State property tax law allows the city to levy a property tax to pay for its long-term (over 1 year) debt obligations
and for the next fiscal year $0.1550 (19.75%) of the total tax rate is devoted to paying long-term debt service
obligations. For FY2019 the city’s combined adopted property tax rate is $0.7850 per $100 of assessed valuation
with a 98.5% collection rate. This represents a decrease of $0.02 from the prior year property tax rate. The debt
service levy rate of $0.1550 per $100 of assessed valuation is expected to yield approximately $97.4 million, which
will allow the repayment of all current general debt obligations, along with other revenue.

The State Constitution limits the tax rate to $2.50 per $100. Administratively, the Texas Attorney General will only
allow up to $1.50 per $100 for all tax supported debt. This amount is calculated at the time the bonds are sold
and based on 90% collection rate. Self- supporting debt does not count against the $1.50.

The city’s credit ratings are complimentary of strong financial performance, maintaining reserves and strong
financial governance. The city’s credit strengths are somewhat offset by the city’s growing unfunded pension
liability and fixed cost burden. Moody’s Investors Services (Moody’s), S&P Global Rating Services (S&P), Fitch
Rating Services (Fitch), and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (Kroll) have all assigned ratings to the City of Fort Worth’s
outstanding debt. The city’s general obligation bonds are rated ‘Aa3’ by Moody’s, ‘AA’ by S&P, and ‘AA+’ by both
Fitch and Kroll. The city’s water revenue bonds are rated ‘Aa1’ by Moody’s, ‘AA+’ by S&P, and ‘AA’ by Fitch. The
city’s drainage utility revenue bonds are rated ‘AA+’ by S&P and Fitch. The city’s special tax revenue bonds are
not rated by S&P or Kroll, and are rated ‘A1’ ‘AA+’ by Moody’s and Fitch, respectively.

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