Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Finance
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
Adoption of the Series 2025 Bond Resolution authorizing the issuance by the County of its Water and Sewerage Revenue Bonds (Second Resolution), Series 2025 in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $450,000,000 for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition, construction and equipping of certain improvements to the County’s water and sewerage system.
Body
Information Contact: Dianne McNabb, CFO, and Robert Atkins, Deputy CFO
Phone Number: 404-371-2000; 678-910-5638
PURPOSE:
To adopt the Series 2025 Bond Resolution authorizing the sale and issuance by the County of its Water and Sewerage Revenue Bonds (Second Resolution), Series 2025 in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $450,000,000 (the “Series 2025 Bonds”) for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition, construction and equipping of certain improvements to the County’s water and sewerage system.
NEED/IMPACT:
The Department of Watershed Management’s (DWM) mission to sustain a safe drinking water supply and wastewater collection and treatment system to protect the County’s health and watersheds requires that the County’s water and wastewater infrastructure be properly maintained, repaired, replaced, upgraded, operated, and managed. In addition, the growth and economic development of the County requires the County to continuously develop and renew the water and wastewater infrastructure.
Much of the water and sewer system needs replacement and/or major upgrades. Many of the pipes are more than 70 years old and the County’s only water treatment plant, Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, requires major repairs. The County also must comply with the Consent Decree requirements imposed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Georgia Attorney General Office, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
The failure to address the above issues would subject the County’s continued growth, economic development, financial stability, and high-quality water goals to significant risk.
The County has determined that the total spend over the next 10 years to fund the CIP 2024 and accomplish the necessary improvements will approximate $4 billion.
The proceeds of the Series 2025 Bonds will finance a portion of the cost of the County’s capital investments for its water and sewer system needs during 2025 and 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The current market interest rate estimate is approximately 4.4 % per annum, which results in approximately $400,000,000 in total interest over the life of the bonds. Costs of issuance is approximately $800,000. The actual interest and costs of issuance will be determined by the best bid on the sale date and presented to the BOC for final approval either the day of or day after the bids are received.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To adopt the Series 2025 Bond Resolution and authorize the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer to execute all necessary documents in connection with this matter.