Page 554 - Bedford-FY24-25 Budget
P. 554

Bedford Street Improvement Economic Development Corporation consist primarily of sales tax, a
               portion of which may be obligated on an annual basis for debt service payments.  Therefore, in
               order to ensure that the City is able to meet future debt service requirements, the Corporation
               should maintain an assigned fund balance equivalent to one year of the average annual debt service
               requirement, including related expenses.

               NON-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BALANCE:

               The fund balance categories discussed above do not apply to proprietary funds according to GASB
               54.  Although it is not required by GASB, the City of Bedford recognizes the need for a minimum
               working capital policy for the proprietary funds maintained by the City, such as the Water and
               Sewer Fund and Stormwater Fund.  Therefore, the Water and Sewer Fund shall maintain  its  goal
               of  a  working  capital  amount  equivalent  to  90  days  of  operational  expenses excluding capital
               outlays.  And the Stormwater Fund shall maintain its goal of a working capital amount equivalent
               to 90 days of operational expenses excluding capital outlays.

               If the  working capital falls below the desired level, the City will implement the necessary
               corrective action, in which the City Manager or designee will submit a plan to restore its working
               capital to the desired level within the time period specified in the plan. These steps include, but
               are not limited to, enacting cost saving measures; increasing user  charges; holding capital
               purchases; freezing positions; and/or reducing the workforce.

               CAPITAL AND DEBT SERVICE FUNDS. Revenues in the Debt Service Fund are stable, based
               exclusively on property tax revenues and transfers from other funds. Reserves in the Debt Service
               Fund are designed to provide funding between the date of issuance of new debt and the time that
               property tax levies are adjusted to reflect the additional debt.

               IX.  DEBT MANAGEMENT

               TYPES OF DEBT. Long-term debt will not be used for operating purposes, and the life of a bond
               will not exceed the useful life of a project financed by that bond issue.

               When appropriate, and as approved by Council Policy, self-supporting revenues will pay debt
               services in lieu of tax revenues.

               ANALYSIS OF  FINANCING ALTERNATIVES.  The City will explore all  financing
               alternatives in  addition to long-term debt including leasing, grants  and other aid, developer
               contributions, and use of reserves of current monies.

               DISCLOSURE.  Full disclosure will be made to bond rating agencies and other users of financial
               information. The City staff, with the assistance of financial advisors and bond counsel, will prepare
               necessary materials for  presentation to rating agencies, will aid in the production of Offering
               Statements, and will take responsibility for the accuracy of all financial information released.

               FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.  The City will maintain procedures to comply with arbitrage
               rebate and other Federal requirements.

               DEBT STRUCTURE.  The structure should approximate level debt service unless operational
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