Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2001-02-23 House Journal
No results found showing results without HB%20146
Full Journal pdf2001-02-23 House Journal Page 0418 "An Act relating to the issuance of certificates of participation to finance deferred maintenance projects, and a construction project, for certain public harbor facilities; giving notice of and approving the entry into, and the issuance of certificates of participation in, lease-financing agreements for those public harbor facility projects; repealing a provision relating to the financing of construction and renovation of facilities for certain ports and harbors; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs, State Affairs, and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 22, 2001, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has a long- term goal of bringing state-owned harbor facilities up to suitable standard and divesting ownership to the municipalities that operate them. Once deferred maintenance needs are addressed, the municipalities can support operation and maintenance of these valuable facilities through moorage and other fees. In recent years when transferring harbor ownership to the municipalities, the state has provided grant money as well to address deferred maintenance needs. This bill I transmit today would continue the policy, but leverages state general funds through issuance of certificates of participation. From the municipalities' perspective, this is essentially the same as a grant program. Certificates of participation (COPs) are an accepted form of financing that the state has used for many capital projects with high credit ratings -- just one notch below the state's general obligation rating. Pooling the group of harbor transfers in this bill into one bond sale also adds efficiency.