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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8968INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS To the Mayor and Members of the City Council august 5, 2008 4'"'1 Te Page 1 of 3 SUBJECT: Current Policy for Redistribution of Surplus Bond Funds fori The purpose of this report is in response to a request from Council members to review the City's policy on how surplus bond funds are redistributed. City Policy regarding undesignated bond funds and redistribution of surplus bond funds has undergone several changes since an initial policy was established in 1986. A historical perspective is provided for enhanced understanding of the genesis of the current policy ultimately adopted by Council in 2004. 1986: Surplus and Undesignated Funds in the 1986 Bond Program In the 1986 Bond Program, each City Council district received monies for neighborhood street and drainage projects, and in most cases, these funds were designated for specific projects by street name and sections to be reconstructed In addition to these "designated" street funds, several districts received an "undesignated" amount in the neighborhood streets category, a lump sum not specified for any particular street, that was to be used for projects to be identified at a later time. TPW staff kept track of the undesignated fund balances by district and also tracked by district any surplus or deficit funds from the designated projects using the initial bond allocations (cost estimates) for the bond program as a baseline budget for the project. If a project costs less than the bond allocation, those funds would accrue in that particular district's account and could be used at Council's discretion for other � CIP projects or cost overruns in that district. If the project cost exceeded the allocation, that Council district account would show a negative balance until surplus funds from other projects in that district materialized to offset the negative balance. As a result of this policy, surplus funds were used exclusively within the council district where the funds were allocated initially in the bond program, and district bond funds were not shared with those of other districts to offset negative balances in other districts or to cover overall bond program cost overruns. The 1986 policy resulted in some council districts having large surpluses, while others had significant deficits due to variances in the estimated cost versus the actual cost. 1996: Amended Policy for Council Districts' Undesignated Bond Funds A bond program was approved by voters in 1993 for street related improvements and in early 1996, staff projected that surpluses would not materialize in district accounts sufficient to ensure that all voter approved projects would be delivered. In order to reduce funding discrepancies and direct all surplus funds to a city -wide effort to complete all projects, the policy was amended in March 1996 (M &C G- 11420 ). Under the 1996 policy, all project surpluses would accrue to a city -wide Undesignated Account to fund all approved projects. However, there were some exceptions. The district - specific undesignated accounts were retained, and those districts that had zero resources were given an allocation of 5100,000. Additionally, surplus funds that resulted from the elimination or ,significant alteration of a council district project would also be recorded in the Undesignated Account for U- particular district, and those funds could be specified by the Council member for use on other projects. These funds are tracked by the Capital Projects Division in Finance. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS �'.i;1f: To the Mayor and Members of the City Council 1: August 5, 2008 Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: Current Policy for Redistribution of Surplus Bond Funds 2004: Current Policy - Establishment of Restricted Residual Account and Policy for Surplus Bond Funds In 2004, in order to ensure completion of all voter approved projects in the 2004 Bond Program, staff recommended that a "Restricted Residual Account" be established (M &C G- 14441, July 27, 2004). Restricted Residual Account funds materialize from two sources: 1. Surplus project funds remaining after completion of a bond project based on actual project costs. 2. Surplus funds from deleted or changed projects. (Council has the authority to eliminate or modify a project if conditions change). The policy further recommended that funds be used from the Restricted Residual Account only after all listed bond projects are substantially complete. Under this policy, a project is defined as substantially complete when design work has been fully completed, construction is substantially underway, and staff has prepared cost projections that include ample contingencies to complete the project if unforeseen costs should arise. Additionally, the policy requires that an Informal Report to be presented to Council before any funds are used from the Restricted Residual Account. Restricted Residual funds may be used on other projects within the voted purpose of bonds, as follows: 1. To finance cost overruns on Listed Bond Projects within the same proposition; 2. To fund emergency projects as defined in Administrative Rule C -9; 3. To reduce debt at the end of the bond program; or 4. To reprogram funds for use on other projects within the voted purpose of the bond proposition ONLY AFTER Bond Projects within the same proposition are completed. The policy requires that as the bond program nears completion, an analysis will be conducted to project any surplus funds and will include a report of such funds by council district. Recommendations for reprogrammed funds will be based on the above referenced criteria, and projects will be given a funding priority by council district based on the net amount each district contributed to the Restricted Residual Account. This policy is not applicable to funding in the Parks proposition, whereby $50,000 in unspecified funding was approved in each of the 8 Council Districts for general park improvements and development projects to be determined at Council discretion. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS r To the Mayor and Members of the City Council No. 8968 August 5, 2008 Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: Current Policy for Redistribution of Surplus Bond Funds In summary, under the current policy, all surplus funds are directed to the completion of the 2004 Bond Program and, as substantial completion of the 2004 program nears, staff will provide Council a report of any surplus fund balances by Council District for each relevant proposition, if any materialize. However, based on staff projections at this time, sufficient 2004 Bond funds are not anticipated to ensure delivery all of the approved projects, and staff has recommended to Council the sale of Certificates of Obligation to fund these cost overruns. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact Sandy Oliver at 817- 392 -7371. 49i Dale A. Fisseler, P.E. City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS