Beyond Rates: Other Finance Strategies. Glenn Barnes Environmental Finance Center Network

Transcription

1 Beyond Rates: Other Finance Strategies Glenn Barnes Environmental Finance Center Network

2 Session Objectives Learn about other common sources of water system revenue Consider ways to control costs Understand the debt market Discuss available loan and grant programs

3 Ways To Pay Pay as you go (current receipts) Save in advance and pay Pay later (someone loans you money) Grants (let someone else pay)

4 Grants Aren t Completely Free Money 4/9/13 Application for the grant can be expensive staff time and money Applications can take months to process Often lots of strings attached Often require a percentage match Lots of competition Difficult to sustain 4

5 Quick Thought on Grants This presentation is about sustainable program finance Grants are not sustainable finance

6 I Say This A Lot Grants are not sustainable finance

7 Really, I Say This A Lot Grants are not sustainable finance, said Glenn Barnes

8 The Main Source: Your Revenue Pay as you go (current receipts) Save in advance and pay Pay later (someone loans you money) Grants (let someone else pay)

9 Assessments A recurrent charge to a sub-group of the population The sub-group receives benefits from an environmental service or improvement not enjoyed by others in the area Close cost/benefit relationship à equity 10

10 Impact Fees One-time charges to new users Typically assessed when building permits are issued Close cost/benefit relationship à equity 11

11 Periodic Charges Deposits on new accounts Penalties for late payment

12 Innovative Funding Sources For example, rent out your water tower for cellphone receivers

13 Control Costs Partner with other water systems to arrange a bulk purchase of chemicals Perhaps consider sharing staff or equipment with other water systems

14 Control Costs Manage your energy expenses the largest controllable cost for water systems Have an energy audit, change your processes, replace equipment with more efficient models

15 Control Costs Merge with another water system regionalization allows systems to take advantage of economies of scale from larger-scale operations

16 When You Need Cash Now: The Debt Market 4/9/13 Lenders will look at your creditworthiness, your ability to repay the debt, in determining whether to loan to you and your interest rate

17 Common Debt Options 4/9/13 G.O. Bonds: Revenue Bonds: Advantage Low RelaGve Interest Cost; Lower Issuance Cost Greater Flexibility (Term, AmorGzaGon); No Referendum; Advantageous for Self SupporGng Systems Disadvantage Referendum Required (PoliGcally SensiGve); Lower Structuring Flexibility Higher Issuance Cost Higher RelaGve Interest Cost; Feasibility Study Installment Purchase/ Cer:ficate of Par:cipa:on No Referendum; Lower Cost of Issuance for Private Placements Secured by asset, Placement, limits future opgons

18 The Debt Market Two types Loans and Bonds Loans are universally available Bonds are typically only available to large systems with significant revenues and managerial capacity

19 Loans Typically from a bank Can be from a government-sponsored program such as the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 20

20 Bonds A written promise to repay borrowed money (on a definite schedule and usually at a fixed rate of interest for the life of the bond) Different types exist: General Obligation (GO) Revenue Source: bewermondays.com 21

21 Ratings Source: The Bond Market AssociaGon

22 Moody s Water & Sewer Rating Distributions 2006 Source: Moody s Investor Service

23 Ratings Source: Moodys Municipal Bond RaGng Scale, November 2002

24 A Quick Aside On Debt... The only way the bonds pay for anything is if one of these people lives in your community... Source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file: _barr... Source: picasaweb.google.com/.../flqy4iwz7znrmadwzg13ia

25 Loan & Grant Programs

26 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund The Environmental Finance Authority provides low-cost financial assistance to eligible public water systems to finance the cost of repair and replacement of drinking water infrastructure, maintain or achieve compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) requirements, and protect drinking water quality and public health.

27 NMEFA: Public Project Revolving Fund The PPRF is used to finance public projects such as water system upgrades and other infrastructure improvements.

28 NMEFA: Water Project Fund "Projects are recommended by the Water Trust Board to the Legislature. Projects fall within five project categories: (1) water conservation or reuse, (2) flood prevention, (3) endangered species act (ESA) collaborative efforts, (4) water storage, conveyance and delivery infrastructure improvements, and (5) watershed restoration and management initiatives."

29 NMEFA: Local Government Planning Fund 4/9/13 Formerly known as water planning fund Provides up-front capital (grants and loans) necessary to allow for proper planning of vital water and wastewater projects, including master plans, conservation plans, economic development plans, infrastructure plans and energy efficiency audits.

30 EDA: Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs Empowers distressed communities to revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, and generate or retain long-term, private sector jobs and investment. 4/9/13

31 NM Enviro: Rural Infrastructure Program Program serves any incorporated city, town, village, mutual domestic association, or water and sanitation district whose water supply facility serves a population of less than twenty thousand persons or a county that serves a population of less than two hundred thousand. Funding is available for eligible water, wastewater and water pollution control projects.

32 USDA: Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants 4/9/13 Funds are available to public bodies and nonprofit corporations to develop water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage, in rural areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000.

33 USDA: Technical Assistance and Training Grants Assistance may be provided to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems, to improve the operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities, and to assist associations in preparing applications for water and waste disposal facilities.

34 NMDFA: Community Development Block Grant Program 4/9/13 The DFA address local community development needs. Bureau staff members provide assistance and oversight to local officials with the implementation of needed infrastructure, public buildings, housing rehabilitation, economic development, planning and other critical projects.

35 Did we miss any?

36 A Favor & A Reminder Please fill out an eval form for us before you leave Contact us anytime for direct technical assistance on any finance and management topic of our project

37 Thank you! Glenn Barnes Environmental Finance Center Network