New York, December 02, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aa2 rating to Benton & Linn Counties School District 509J (Corvallis), Oregon's General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020 in the expected par amount of $39.92 million. We have also assigned a Aa1 enhanced rating based on the assumption that the bonds will qualify and be backed by the Oregon School Bond Guaranty Program. Moody's maintains Aa2 ratings on the district's outstanding rated general obligation unlimited tax (GOULT) bonds in the amount of $159.5 million.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The Aa2 GOULT rating reflects a large and growing tax base anchored by the institutional presence of Oregon State University as well as solid resident socioeconomic measures. The rating also considers the district's financial performance, which is considered satisfactory despite tax base compression which led to lower than expected local option revenue in fiscal 2020. Still, reserves are adequate, however further revenue weakening from a combination of flat enrollment and compression loss are future credit stress. The rating further reflects the manageable overall leverage, including debt, pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB), though the current debt burden is above average relative to peers. We view the coronavirus pandemic as a social risk considering the impact on health and safety; the district is proceeding with comprehensive distance learning and a transition to a hybrid model in calendar year 2021, based on state guidance. We expect that the district will continue to manage revenue to expenses, supported by one-time CARES funding. We do not expect material long-term financial loss related to the pandemic.
The Aa1 enhanced rating reflects the State of Oregon's (Aa1 stable) full faith, credit and taxing power which is pledged to guarantee qualified school districts' bond debt service when due. Key aspects of the program include third party notification of any unpaid debt service and favorable state oversight.
RATING OUTLOOK
Outlooks are not typically assigned to local governments with this amount of debt outstanding.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OF THE RATINGS
- Sustained growth in reserves and liquidity in line with higher rated peers
- Significant growth in tax base and improvement of socioeconomic measures
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
- Continuation of structural imbalance resulting in deterioration of reserves and liquidity
- Protracted tax base declines leading to increased tax base compression and reduced local option revenue
- Material increase in debt and pension liabilities
LEGAL SECURITY
The current offering is secured by the district's full faith, credit, and unlimited property tax pledge. Debt service for GOULT bonds in Oregon is funded by a separate property tax levy that is dedicated to bondholders and secured through statute, a beneficial credit strength for bond holders. The state also pledges its full faith, credit and taxing power under the Oregon School Bond Guaranty Program to guaranteed debt service when due for a school district's qualified GOULT bonds.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Proceeds from the Series 2020 bonds will be used to finance various school facilities improvements and building upgrades.
PROFILE
The district serves the City of Corvallis, the county seat of Benton County (Aa2) in central western Oregon. The district operates two high schools, two middle schools, one K-9 school, seven elementary schools, an alternative education center and sponsors a charter school. District enrollment has declined slightly to 6,745 students in 2020, though it has remained relatively flat over the last five years.
METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in the underlying rating was US Local Government General Obligation Debt published in July 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1230443. The principal methodology used in the enhanced rating was Rating Transactions Based on the Credit Substitution Approach: Letter of Credit-backed, Insured and Guaranteed Debts published in May 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1068154. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security 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 certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain 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 have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
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