Page 69 - City of Bedford FY20 Approved Budget
P. 69

3.  Capital Improvement Funds

                         Suitability - Any investment eligible in the Investment Policy is suitable for Capital
                         Improvement Funds.

                         Safety of Principal - All investments will be of high quality with no perceived default
                         risk.  Market price fluctuations will occur.   However, by managing Capital Improvement
                         Funds to not exceed the anticipated expenditure schedule, the market risk of the overall
                         portfolio will be minimized.  No stated final investment maturity shall exceed the shorter
                         of the anticipated expenditure schedule or three years.

                         Marketability - Securities with active and efficient secondary markets are necessary in
                         the event of an unanticipated cash flow requirement.  Historical market “spreads” between
                         the bid and offer prices of a particular security-type of less than a quarter of a percentage
                         point will define an efficient secondary market.

                         Liquidity - Most capital improvements programs have reasonably predictable draw down
                         schedules.  Therefore, investment maturities should generally follow the anticipated cash
                         flow requirements.  Financial institution deposits, investment pools and money market
                         mutual funds will provide readily available funds generally equal to  one  month’s
                         anticipated cash flow needs, or a competitive yield alternative for  short-term fixed
                         maturity investments.  A singular repurchase agreement may be utilized if disbursements
                         are allowed in the amount necessary to satisfy any expenditure request.  This investment
                         structure is commonly referred to as a flexible repurchase agreement.

                         Diversification - Market conditions and arbitrage regulations influence the attractiveness
                         of staggering the maturity of fixed rate investments for bond proceeds.  Generally, if
                         investment rates exceed the applicable cost of borrowing, BEDFORD is best served by
                         locking in most investments.  If the cost of borrowing cannot be exceeded, then current
                         market conditions will determine the attractiveness of diversifying maturities or investing
                         in shorter and larger amounts.  At no time shall the anticipated expenditure schedule be
                         exceeded in an attempt to bolster yield.

                         Yield - Achieving a positive spread to the cost of borrowing is the desired objective,
                         within the limits of the Investment Policy’s risk constraints.  The yield of an equally
                         weighted, rolling six-month Treasury Bill portfolio will be the minimum yield objective
                         for non-borrowed funds.

                     4.  Debt Service/Interest and Sinking Funds

                         Suitability - Any investment eligible in the Investment Policy is suitable for Interest and
                         Sinking Funds.

                         Safety of Principal - All investments shall be of high quality with no perceived default
                         risk.  Market price fluctuations will occur.  However, by managing Debt Service Funds to
                         not exceed the debt service payment schedule, the market risk of the overall portfolio will





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