Page 304 - City of Watauga FY22 Adopted Budget
P. 304

DEBT SERVICE


               During FY2003-2004 the City was once again able to take advantage of low interest
               rates and refunded the General Obligation Debt Series 1994 and advance refunded the
               Watauga Parks Development 1995 Sales Tax Revenue Bonds.

               During  FY2004-2005  the  City  issued  $5,000,000  of  Certificates  of  Obligation  for
               construction,  purchasing,  renovating,  and  improving  the  City’s  public  safety  facilities,
               expansion of the City library, and construction or improvements to streets, curbs, and
               sidewalks within the City.

               During  FY2006-2007,  the  City  issued  $3,400,000  of  Combination  Tax  and  Limited
               Pledge  Revenue  Certificates  of  Obligation  for  the  purpose  of  paying  contractual
               obligations  for  constructing,  purchasing,  renovating,  and  improving  the  City’s  public
               safety  facilities,  including  police,  fire,  and  emergency  medical  services,
               and constructing street improvements and drainage incidental thereto.

               In March 2008, the City refinanced the bonds issued in 1996, which were used to pay
               for  acquisition,  improvements,  and  extensions  to  the  Water/Sewer  system  including
               payment  for  professional  services  related  to  the  construction  and  financing  of
               water/sewer  improvements.  The  City  was  able  to  reduce  interest  from  4.783%  to
               3.12%,  while  also  freeing  up  $360,000  from  the  Bond  Reserve  Fund,  which  is  no
               longer required.

               During  FY2010-2011,  The  City  issued  $7,365,000  Combination  Tax  and  Limited
               Pledge  Revenue  Certificate  of  Obligation  Bonds,  of  which  $4,585,000  are  paid  from
               property tax  levies.    These bonds  were  issued to finance  various  equipment  needs
               (i.e.,  radios,  computer  hardware),  street  projects  and  improvements,  specific  use
               vehicles such as a quint fire truck, ambulance, public works heavy equipment, traffic
               lights  and  traffic safety  equipment, and possible  renovation of  some  buildings.    This
               debt  issuance  was  timed  for  FY2011-2012  since  the  City’s  total  debt  obligations
               decreased the end of FY2010-2011.           Also, during FY2010-2011, the City refunded
               $1,000,000  in  Certificates  of  Obligation,  Series  1998.    The  City  was  able  to  reduce
               interest from 4.6% to 1.95%.

               During FY2011-2012, the City issued $7,730,000 Combination Tax and Limited Pledge
               Revenue Certificate of Obligation bonds, which will be paid from water and sewer fund
               revenues.    These  bonds  were  issued  to  finance  various  utility  system  projects,  to
               include  street  improvements  and  storm  water  and  drainage  system  improvements.
               The  City  began  these  projects  in  FY2012-2013  and  the  projects  continued  through
               FY2015-2016.

               During FY2012-2013 the City was once again able to take advantage of low interest
               rates  and  refunded  the  Series  2003  and  Series  2005  Certificate  of  Obligation.    The
               gross savings to the City was $126,523.12 through this refunding.

               In  FY2013-2014,  the  City  issued  $3,500,000  Combination  Tax  and  Limited  Pledge
               Revenue Certificate of Obligation bonds, which will be paid from property tax levies.





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