Affirms Aa1 rating on approximately $59.2 million of GO Debt
New York, August 15, 2012 --
Moody's Rating
Issue: Lease Revenue Bonds (County of James City, Virginia
Capital Projects), Series 2012; Rating: Aa2; Sale
Amount: $26,285,000; Expected Sale Date:
8/24/12; Rating Description: Lease Rental: Appropriation
Opinion
Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aa2 rating and positive outlook
to the Economic Development Authority of James City County's (VA)
$26.3 million Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2012.
The bonds are secured by a commitment from James City County to make lease
payments, which are subject to annual appropriation, to support
debt service. Concurrently, Moody's has affirmed the
Aa1 rating on $59.2 million in previously issued general
obligation debt. At the same time, Moody's affirms
the Aa2 rating on $80.2 million in previously issued essential
purpose lease revenue bonds, including the Series 2006 and Series
2009 bonds, as well as the Aa3 rating on $17.6 million
in previously issued non-essential lease revenue debt related to
the Series 2005 bonds. The county's outlook for each of these
debt issuances has been revised to positive.
SUMMARY RATINGS RATIONALE
The Aa2 rating reflects the commitment of James City County to make annual
lease payments, which are subject to appropriation, in order
to support debt service on the bonds, the essential nature of the
assets financed, satisfactory legal provisions, and the county's
strong underlying credit characteristics. The county's Aa1 General
Obligation rating incorporates the county's stable economic base characterized
by above-average wealth levels and sizable tourism sector,
strong financial position, and above-average, but manageable
debt burden. The Aa3 rating on the Series 2005 bonds reflects the
commitment of James City County to making annual lease payments,
which are subject to appropriation, in order to support debt service
on the bonds, the non-essential nature of the assets financed,
satisfactory legal provisions, and the county's strong underlying
credit characteristic.
The revision of the outlook to positive reflects the county's continued
improvement in reserve levels that provide added financial flexibility.
In addition, the county's tax base has continued to expand
despite challenges presented by the current national economic environment.
A majority of the proceeds from the current bond issue will be used to
fund school construction and renovation, as well as the construction
of a new fire station. The remainder of the proceeds will be used
to refund the Series 2003 Lease Revenue Bonds for an estimated net present
value savings of $614,000, or 7.65% of
refunded principal, with no extension of maturity.
STRENGTHS:
- Stable tax base with above-average wealth levels
- Strong reserve position
CHALLENGES:
- Above-average debt burden
- Ability to achieve and maintain debt service expenditures within
established policy targets
Outlook
The positive outlook reflects the continued improvement in the county's
reserve levels despite the current economic environment. These
increased reserve levels provide the county with additional financial
flexibility going forward. The positive outlook also reflects the
continued growth and diversification of the county's tax base.
While the county is expecting a slight decline assessed valuation during
fiscal 2013, Moody's believes the county will be able to offset
any losses by continuing a strong financial management strategy.
Moody's will continue to monitor the county's ability to increase
reserves, and if reserves begin to fall below historical levels,
negative credit pressure is possible.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING GO UP:
- Continued increase in reserve levels
- Growth in tax base and wealth levels
- Decreased debt burden
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING GO DOWN (Removal of positive outlook):
- Decreased reserve levels
- Reduction in tax base and wealth levels
- Increased debt burden
- Inability to meet debt service target
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
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
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
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the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
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Jennifer Diercksen
Associate Analyst
Public Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Julie Beglin
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
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's assigns Aa2 rating to the Economic Development Authority of James City County's (VA) $26.3 million Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2012; City's outlook revised to positive