Revenues of the school district are received by the board treasurer.  Other persons receiving revenues on behalf of the school district shall promptly turn them over to the board treasurer.

Revenue, from whatever source, shall be accounted for and classified under the official accounting system of the school district.  It shall be the responsibility of the board treasurer to deposit the revenues received by the school district in a timely manner.  School district funds from all sources shall not be used for private gain or political purposes.

Tuition fees received by the school district shall be deposited in the general fund.  The tuition fees for kindergarten through twelfth grade during the regular academic school year are set by the board based upon the superintendent's recommendation in compliance with current law.  Tuition fees for summer school, driver's education and adult education shall be set by the board prior to the offering of the programs.

The board may charge materials fees for the use or purchase of educational materials.  Materials fees received by the school district shall be deposited in the general fund.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to recommend to the board when materials fees will be charged and the amount of the materials fees.

Rental fees received by the school district for the rental of school district equipment or facilities are deposited in the general fund.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to recommend to the board a fee schedule for renting school district property.

Proceeds from the sale of real property are placed in the PPEL fund.  The proceeds from the sale of other school district property shall be placed in the general fund.

The board may claim exemption from the law prohibiting competition with private enterprise for the following activities:

• Goods and services directly and reasonably related to the educational mission;
• Goods and services offered only to students, employees or guests which cannot be provided by private enterprise at the same or lower cost;
• Use of vehicles for charter trips offered to the public, full- or part-time, or temporary students;
• Goods and services which are not otherwise available in the quantity or quality required by the school district;
• Telecommunications other than radio or television stations;
• Sponsoring or providing facilities for fitness and recreation;
• Food service and sales; and,
• Sale of books, records, tapes, software, educational equipment, and supplies.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to bring to the board's attention additional sources of revenue for the school district.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 12C; 23A; 257.2; 279.8; 282.2, .6, .24; 291.12, .13; 297.9-.12, .22; 301.1 (2003).

Cross Reference:  701.1  Depository of Funds
                                       703      Budget
                                       803      Selling and Leasing
                                       905      Use of School District Facilities & Equipment

Approved  7/10/89                 
Reviewed 11/15/21                             
Revised  7/12/05 

 

 

 

DEBT LIMITS

Credit Ratings

The school district seeks to maintain the highest possible credit ratings for all categories of short- and long-term debt that can be achieved without compromising the delivery of services and the achievement of adopted objectives.  The school district recognizes that external economic, natural, or other events may from time to time affect the creditworthiness of its debt. Nevertheless, the school district is committed to ensuring that actions within their control are prudent.

 

Debt Limits

For general obligation debt, the school district’s outstanding debt limit shall be no more than five percent (5%) of the actual value of property within the school district’s boundaries, as prescribed the Iowa constitution and statutory restrictions.

For revenue debt, the school district’s goal is to provide adequate debt service coverage of at least 1.20 times the annual debt service costs.

In accordance with Iowa law, the school district may not act as a conduit issuer or issue municipal securities to raise capital for revenue-generating projects where the funds generated are used by a third party (“conduit borrower”) to make payments to investors.

 

PURPOSES AND USES OF DEBT

Capital Planning

To enhance creditworthiness and prudent financial management, the school district is committed to systematic capital planning, intergovernmental cooperation and coordination and long-term financial planning.

 

Capital Financing

The school district may issue long-term debt for capital projects as authorized by Iowa law, which include, but are not limited to, the costs of planning, design, land acquisition, buildings, permanent structures, attached fixtures or equipment, and movable pieces of equipment. Capitalized interest may be included in sizing any capital project debt issue.  The types of debt instruments to be used by the school district include:

• General Obligation Bonds
• General Obligation Capital Loan Notes
• Bond Anticipation Notes
• Revenue Anticipation Notes
• School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds
• Lease Purchase Agreements, including Certificates of Participation

 

Working Capital Financing

The school district may issue debt for working capital for operations after cash flow analysis has determined that there is a mismatch between available cash and cash outflows.  The school district shall strive to repay working capital debt by the end of the fiscal year in which the debt was incurred.  A Working Capital Reserve may be included in sizing any working capital debt issue.

 

Refundings

Periodic reviews of all outstanding debt will be undertaken to determine if refunding opportunities exist. Refunding will be considered (within federal tax law restraints) if and when there is a net economic benefit of the refunding or if the refunding is otherwise in the best interests of the school district, such as to release restrictive bond covenants which affect the operations and management of the school district.

In general, advance refundings for economic savings will be undertaken when a net present value savings exceeds three percent of the refunded debt can be achieved.  Current refundings, which produce a new present value savings of less than three percent will be considered on a case by case basis taking into consideration bond covenants and general conditions.  Refundings with negative savings will not be considered unless there is a compelling public policy objective for doing so.

 

DEBT STANDARDS AND STRUCTURE

Length of Debt

Debt will be structured for the shortest period consistent with a fair allocation of costs to current and future beneficiaries or users.  Long-term debt will not be issued for periods exceeding the useful life or average useful lives of the project or projects to be financed.  All debt issued will adhere to state and federal law regarding the length of time the debt may be outstanding.

 

Debt Structure

Debt will be structured to achieve the lowest possible net cost to the school district given market conditions, the urgency of the capital project, the type of debt being issued, and the nature and type of repayment source.  To the extent possible, the school district will design the repayment of its overall debt to rapidly recapture its credit capacity for future use.

Generally, the school district will only issue fixed-rate debt.  In very limited circumstances, the school district may issue variable rate debt, consistent with the limitations of Iowa law and upon a finding of the board that the use of fixed rate debt is not in the best interest of the school district and a statement of the reasons for the use of variable rate debt.

All debt may be structured using discount, par or premium coupons, and as serial or term bonds or notes, or any combination thereof, consistent with Iowa law.  The school district should utilize the coupon structure that produces the lowest True Interest Cost (TIC) taking into consideration the call option value of any callable maturities.

The school district will strive to structure their debt in sinking fund installments for each debt issue that achieves, as nearly as practicable, level debt service within an issue or overall debt service within a particular classification of debt.

Derivatives (including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps, caps, collars, corridors, ceiling and floor agreements, forward agreements, float agreements, or other similar financing arrangements), zero-coupon or capital appreciation bonds are not allowed to be issued consistent with State law.

 

Decision Analysis to Issue Debt

Whenever the school district is contemplating the issuance of debt, information will be developed concerning the following four categories commonly used by rating agencies assessing the school district’s credit worthiness, listed below.

Debt Analysis – Debt capacity analysis; purpose for which debt is proposed to be issued; debt structure; debt burden; debt history and trends; and adequacy of debt and capital planning.

Financial Analysis – Stability, diversity, and growth rates of tax or other revenue sources; trend in assessed valuation and collections; current budget trends; appraisal of past revenue and expenditure trends; history and long-term trends of revenues and expenditures; evidences of financial planning; adherence to GAAP; audit results; fund balance status and trends in operating and debt funds; financial monitoring systems and capabilities; and cash flow projections.

Governmental and Administrative Analysis – Government organization structure; location of financial responsibilities and degree of control; adequacy of basic service provision; intergovernmental cooperation/conflict and extent of duplication; and overall planning efforts.

Economic Analysis – Geographic and location advantages; population and demographic characteristics; wealth indicators; types of employment, industry and occupation; housing characteristics; new construction; evidences of industrial decline; and trend of the economy.

 

DEBT ISSUANCE

Credit Enhancement

Credit enhancements (.i.e., bond insurance, etc.) may be used but only when the net debt service on the debt is reduced by more than the costs of the credit enhancement.

 

Costs and Fees

All costs and fees related to issuing the debt will be paid out of debt proceeds and allocated across all projects receiving proceeds of the debt issue.

 

Method of Sale

Generally, all school district debt will be sold through a competitive bidding process.  Bids will be awarded on a TIC basis providing other bidding requirements are satisfied.

The school district may sell debt using a negotiated process in extraordinary circumstances when the complexity of the issue requires specialized expertise, when the negotiated sale would result in substantial savings in time or money, or when market conditions of school district credit are unusually volatile or uncertain.

 

Professional Service Providers

The school district will retain external bond counsel for all debt issues.  All debt issued by the school district will include a written opinion by bond counsel affirming that the school district is authorized to issue the debt, stating that the school district has met all Iowa constitutional and statutory requirements necessary for issuance and determining the debt’s federal income tax status.  The bond counsel retained must have comprehensive municipal debt experience and a thorough understanding of Iowa law as it relates to the issuance of the particular debt.

The school district will retain an independent financial advisor.  The financial advisor will be responsible for structuring and preparing all offering documents for each debt issue.  The financial advisor retained will have comprehensive municipal debt experience, experience with diverse financial structuring and pricing of municipal securities.

The treasurer shall have the authority to periodically select other service providers (e.g., escrow agents, verification agents, trustees, arbitrage consultants, rebate specialist, etc.) as necessary to meet legal requirements and minimize net debt costs.  These services can include debt restructuring services and security or escrow purchases.

Compensation for bond counsel, financial advisor and other service providers will be as economical as possible and consistent with industry standards for the desired qualification levels.

 

DEBT MANAGEMENT

Investment of Debt Proceeds

The school district shall invest all proceeds received from the issuance of debt separate from the school district’s consolidated cash pool unless otherwise specified by the authorizing bond resolution or trust indenture.  Investments will be consistent with those authorized by Iowa law and the school district’s Investment Policy to maintain safety of principal and liquidity of the funds.

 

Arbitrage and Record Keeping Compliance

The treasurer shall maintain a system of record keeping reporting and compliance procedures with respect to all federal tax requirements which are currently, or may become applicable through the lifetime of all tax-exempt or tax credit bonds.

Federal tax compliance, record-keeping reporting and compliance procedures shall include not shall not be limited to:

1)      post-issuance compliance procedures (including proper use of proceeds, timely expenditure of proceeds, proper use of bond financed property, yield restriction and rebate, and timely return filing);

2)      proper maintenance of records to support federal tax compliance;

3)      investments and arbitrage compliance;

4)      expenditures and assets;

5)      private business use; and

6)      designation of primary responsibilities for federal tax compliance of all bond financings.

 

Financial Disclosure

The school district is committed to full and complete financial disclosure, and to cooperating fully with rating agencies, institutional and individual investors, other levels of government, and the general public to share comprehensible and accurate financial information.  The school district is dedicated to meeting secondary disclosure requirements on a timely and comprehensive basis, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Official Statements accompanying debt issues, Annual Audits, and Continuing Disclosure statements will meet the standards articulated  by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  The treasurer shall be responsible for ongoing debt disclosure as required by any Continuing Disclosure Certificate for any debt issue and for maintain compliance with disclosure standards promulgated by state and federal regulatory bodies.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 74-76; 278.1; 298; 298A (2013).

Cross Reference:  701       Financial Accounting System
                                       704       Revenue

Approved  7/15/13                                 
Reviewed     11/15/21                                                                          
Revised                   

 

1.  Compliance Coordinator:

a)         The School Business Official ("Coordinator") shall be responsible for monitoring post-issuance compliance.

b)         The Coordinator will maintain a copy of the transcript of proceedings in connection with the issuance of any tax-exempt obligations.  Coordinator will obtain such records as are necessary to meet the requirements of this policy.

c)         The Coordinator shall consult with bond counsel, a rebate consultant, financial advisor, IRS publications and such other resources as are necessary to understand and meet the requirements of this policy.

d)         Training and education of Coordinator will be sought and implemented upon the occurrence of new developments and upon the hiring of new personnel to implement this policy.

2.  Financing Transcripts.  The Coordinator shall confirm the proper filing of an 8038 Series return, and maintain a transcript of proceedings for all tax-exempt obligations issued by the District, including but not limited to all tax-exempt bonds, notes and lease-purchase contracts.  Each transcript shall be maintained until eleven (11) years after the tax-exempt obligation it documents has been retired.  Said transcript shall include, at a minimum:

            a)         Form 8038s;

            b)         minutes, resolutions, and certificates;

            c)         certifications of issue price from the underwriter;

            d)         formal elections required by the IRS;

            e)         trustee statements;

            f)          records of refunded bonds, if applicable;

            g)         correspondence relating to bond financings; and

            h)         reports of any IRS examinations for bond financings.    

3.  Proper Use of Proceeds.  The Coordinator shall review the resolution authorizing issuance for each tax-exempt obligation issued by the District, and that the District shall:

a)         obtain a computation of the yield on such issue from the District’s financial advisor; 

b)         create a separate Project Fund (with as many sub-funds as shall be necessary to allocate proceeds among the projects being funded by the issue) into which the proceeds of issue shall be deposited;

c)         review all requisitions, draw schedules, draw requests, invoices and bills requesting payment from the Project Fund;

d)         determine whether payment from the Project Fund is appropriate, and if so, make payment from the Project Fund (and appropriate sub-fund if applicable);

e)         maintain records of the payment requests and corresponding records showing payment;

f)          maintain records showing the earnings on, and investment of, the Project Fund;

g)         ensure that all investments acquired with proceeds are purchased at fair market value;

h)         identify bond proceeds or applicable debt service allocations that must be invested with a yield-restriction and monitor the investments of any yield-restricted funds to ensure that the yield on such investments does not exceed the yield to which such investments are restricted;

i)          maintain records related to any investment contracts, credit enhancement transactions, and the bidding of financial products related to the proceeds;

4.  Timely Expenditure and Arbitrage/Rebate Compliance.  The Coordinator shall review the Tax-Exemption Certificate (or equivalent) for each tax-exempt obligation issued by the District and the expenditure records provided in Section 2 of this policy, above, and shall:

a)         monitor and ensure that proceeds of each such issue are spent within the temporary period set forth in such certificate;

b)         if the District does not meet the “small issuer” exception for said obligation, monitor and ensure that the proceeds are spent in accordance with one or more of the applicable exceptions to rebate as set forth in such certificate;

c)         not less than 60 days prior to a required expenditure date confer with bond counsel and a rebate consultant if the District will fail to meet the applicable temporary period or rebate exception expenditure requirements of the Tax-Exemption Certificate; and

d)         in the event the District fails to meet a temporary period or rebate exception:

i.          procure a timely computation of any rebate liability and, if rebate is due, file a Form 8038-T and arrange for payment of such rebate liability;

ii.         arrange for timely computation and payment of “yield reduction payments” (as such term is defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations), if applicable.

5.  Proper Use of Bond Financed Assets.  The Coordinator shall: 

a)         maintain appropriate records and a list of all bond financed assets.  Such records shall include the actual amount of proceeds (including investment earnings) spent on each of the bond financed assets;

b)         with respect to each bond financed asset, the Coordinator will monitor and confer with bond counsel with respect to all proposed:

             i.         management contracts,

             ii.        service agreements,

            iii.        research contracts,

            iv.        naming rights contracts,

             v.        leases or sub-leases,

            vi.        joint venture, limited liability or partnership arrangements,

            vii.       sale of property; or

            viii.      any other change in use of such asset;

c)         maintain a copy of the proposed agreement, contract, lease or arrangement, together with the response by bond counsel with respect to said proposal for at least three (3) years after retirement of all tax-exempt obligations issued to fund all or any portion of bond financed assets; and

d)         In the event the District takes an action with respect to a bond financed asset, which causes the private business tests or private loan financing test to be met, the Coordinator shall contact bond counsel and ensure timely remedial action under IRS Regulation Sections 1.141-12.

6.  General Project Records.  For each project financed with tax-exempt obligations, the Coordinator shall maintain, until three (3) years after retirement of the tax-exempt obligations or obligations issued to refund those obligations, the following:

            a)         appraisals, demand surveys or feasibility studies,

            b)         applications, approvals and other documentation of grants,

            c)         depreciation schedules,

            d)         contracts respecting the project.

 

 

Approved  05/07/18                
Reviewed 11/15/21         
Revised_________________

 

School district funds in excess of current needs shall be invested in compliance with this policy.  The goals of the school district's investment portfolio in order of priority are:

• To provide safety of the principal;
• To maintain the necessary liquidity to match expected liabilities; and
• To obtain a reasonable rate of return.

In making investments, the school district shall exercise the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use to meet the goals of the investment program.

School district funds are monies of the school district, including operating funds.  "Operating funds" of the school district are funds which are reasonably expected to be used during a current budget year or within fifteen months of receipt.  When investing operating funds, the investments must mature within three hundred and ninety-seven days or less.  When investing funds other than operating funds, the investments must mature according to the need for the funds.

The board authorizes the treasurer to invest funds in excess of current needs in the following investments.

• Interest bearing savings, money market, and checking accounts at the school district's authorized depositories;

• Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust Program (ISJIT);

• Obligations of the United States government, its agencies and instrumentalities; and,

• Certificates of deposit and other evidences of deposit at federally insured Iowa depository institutions.

It is the responsibility of the treasurer to oversee the investment portfolio in compliance with this policy and the law.

It is the responsibility of the treasurer to bring a contract with an outside person to invest school district funds, to advise on investments, to direct investments, to act in a fiduciary capacity or to perform other services to the board for review and approval.  The treasurer will also provide the board with information about and verification of the outside person's fiduciary bond.  Contracts with outside persons will include a clause requiring the outside person to notify the school district within thirty days of any material weakness in internal structure or regulatory orders or sanctions against the outside person regarding the services being provided to the school district and to provide the documents necessary for the performance of the investment portion of the school district audit.  The compensation of the outside persons shall not be based on the performance of the investment portfolio.

The treasurer is responsible for reporting to and reviewing with the board at its regular meetings the investment portfolio's performance, transaction activity and current investments including the percent of the investment portfolio by type of investment and by issuer and maturities.  The report will also include trend lines by month over the last year and year-to-year trend lines regarding the performance of the investment portfolio.  It will also be the responsibility of the treasurer to obtain the information necessary to ensure that the investments and the outside persons doing business with the school district meet the requirements outlined in this policy.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to deliver a copy of this policy to the school district's depositories, auditor and outside persons doing investment business with the school district.

It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the treasurer, to develop a system of investment practices and internal controls over the investment practices.  The investment practices are designed to prevent losses, to document the officers' and employees' responsibility for elements of the investment process and address the capability of the management.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 11.2, .6; 12.62; 12B.10; 12C; 22.1, .14; 28E.2; 257; 279.29; 283A; 285; 502.701; 633.123 (2001).

Cross Reference:  206.4  Treasurer
                                       704      Revenue

Approved  7/10/89     
Reviewed 11/15/21                
Revised  12/11/95 

 

 The board believes gifts, grants, and bequests to the school district may be accepted when they will further the interests of the school district.  The board will have sole authority to determine whether the gift furthers the interests of the school district.

Gifts, grants, and bequests are approved by the board.  Once it has been approved by the board, a board member or the superintendent may accept the gift on behalf of the school district.

Gifts, grants, and bequests once accepted on behalf of the school district, become the property of the school district.  Gifts, grants, and bequests are administered in accordance with terms, if any, agreed to by the board.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.42; 565.6 (2003).

Cross Reference:  217      Gifts to Board of Directors
                                       402.4  Gifts to Employees
                                       508.1  Class or Student Group Gifts

Approved  7/10/89     
Reviewed  11/15/21                                            
Revised  12/11/95  

 

Revenue raised by students or from student activities is deposited and accounted for in the student activities fund.  This revenue is the property of and is under the financial control of the board.  Students may use this revenue for purposes approved by the superintendent or building principal.

Whether such revenue is collected from student contributions, club dues, and special activities or result from admissions to special events or from other fund-raising activities, all funds will be under the jurisdiction of the board and under the specific control of the superintendent or building principal.  They will be deposited in a designated depository and will be disbursed and accounted for in accordance with instructions issued by the superintendent.

It shall be the responsibility of the board secretary to keep student activity accounts up-to-date and complete.

Any unencumbered class account balances will automatically revert to the Graduated Class Account when a class graduates.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 11.23; 279.8 (2003).

Cross Reference:  504  Student Activities
                                       701  Financial Accounting System

Approved  7/10/89     
Reviewed 11/15/21           
Revised  7/12/05