A1 UNDERLYING RATING APPLIES TO $7.6 MILLION OF POST-SALE GOULT DEBT
New York, March 28, 2012 -- Moody's Rating
Issue: Various Purpose Refunding Bonds, Series 2012;
Underlying Rating: A1 and Enhanced Rating: Aa2; Sale
Amount: $6,875,000; Expected Sale Date:
4-5-2012; Rating Description: General Obligation
Opinion
Moody's Investors Service has assigned an A1 underlying rating and a Aa2
enhanced rating (OSDCE) with a stable outlook to Joseph Badger Local School
District's (OH) $6.9 million Various Purpose Refunding
Bonds, Series 2012 (General Obligation Unlimited Tax). Concurrently,
Moody's has affirmed the A1 underlying rating on the district's
outstanding general obligation debt. Post-sale, the
district will have $7.6 million in general obligation unlimited
tax debt outstanding.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
Debt service on the bonds is secured by the district's general obligation
unlimited tax pledge and proceeds will be used to refund the district's
outstanding general obligation bonds, Series 2003, for interest
savings. The A1 underlying rating reflects the district's
modest though stable tax base in Northeastern Ohio, stable financial
operations including long-term maintenance of healthy General Fund
cash reserves, and manageable debt burden.
The enhanced rating of Aa2 is notched from the state's Aa1 general obligation
rating and is also assigned a stable outlook. The enhanced Aa2
rating is based on the programmatic rating and the district's satisfactory
coverage of interceptable aid to debt service of approximately 4.4
times maximum annual debt service on the current offering and compliance
with program requirements for timing of debt service payments.
While we have not yet received notice of approval from the Ohio Department
of Education, we expect that notice will be received shortly.
STRENGTHS
- Stability of the district's tax base
- Healthy General Fund cash reserves
CHALLENGES
- Slightly elevated county unemployment
- Declining enrollment trend
- Reliance on state revenues that exposes district to potential
state aid reductions in future years
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE UNDERLYING RATING -- UP
- Expansion of the district's tax base or strengthening of
the demographic profile
- Growth in General Fund cash reserves
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE UNDERLYING RATING -- DOWN
- Deterioration of the district's tax base or weakening of
the demographic profile
- Material reductions in General Fund cash reserves
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE ENHANCED RATING (OSDCE) -- UP
- Upward movement in the State of Ohio's general obligation rating
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE ENHANCED RATING (OSDCE) -- DOWN
- Downward movement in the State of Ohio's general obligation rating
- Weakening of Ohio School District Credit Enhancement program
mechanics
PRINCIPAL RATING METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in this rating was General Obligation Bonds
Issued by U.S. Local Governments published in October 2009.
Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for
a copy of this methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
Although this credit rating has been issued in a non-EU country
which has not been recognized as endorsable at this date, this credit
rating is deemed "EU qualified by extension" and may still
be used by financial institutions for regulatory purposes until 30 April
2012. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the
Moody's office that has issued a particular Credit Rating is available
on www.moodys.com.
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
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the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Matthew Butler
Associate Analyst
Public Finance Group
Moody's FIS Domestic Sales Office - Chicago IL
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Rachel Cortez
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Public Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
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JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
MOODY'S ASSIGNS A1 UNDERLYING RATING AND Aa2 ENHANCED RATING (OSDCE) WITH STABLE OUTLOOK TO JOSEPH BADGER LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT'S (OH) $6.9 MILLION VARIOUS PURPOSE REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2012 (GOULT)