June 30,1997
(Amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

Note 15

DEBT

1. Short-Term Debt
   Up to $400 million of general obligation temporary notes may be issued by the State with these notes having the full faith and credit of the State pledged for payment of principal and interest. As of June 30, 1997, no notes were outstanding. Additionally, revolving lines of credit have been secured from Swiss Bank and Credit Suisse. These amounts may be advanced with respect to the payment of the principal of the above notes. As of June 30, 1997, no amount was outstanding on the lines of credit (and the lines of credit expired on 9/1/97).
2. Long-Term Debt
   Economic Recovery Notes
   In November 1995, $236.1 million of General Obligation Economic Recovery notes were issued to refinance $240.7 million in notes which were due in 1995-96.
   
   The economic recovery notes outstanding at June 30 were $157.1 million. These notes mature on various dates through 1999 and bear original interest rates from 4.25% to 5%.
   
   The following is a description of the future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on economic recovery notes outstanding at June 30, 1997.

General Obligation Bonds
General obligation bonds are those bonds that are paid out of the revenues of the General fund and that are supported by the full faith and credit of the State. General obligation bonds outstanding and bonds authorized but unissued at June 30 were as follows:

Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on general obligation bonds outstanding at June 30,1997, were as follows:

Transportation Related Bonds

Transportation related bonds include special tax obligation bonds and general obligation bonds that are paid out of revenues pledged or earned in the Transportation Fund. The revenue pledged or earned in the Transportation Fund to pay special tax obligation bonds is transferred to the debt service fund for retirement of principal and interest.

Transportation related bonds outstanding and bonds authorized but unissued at June 30 were as follows:

Future amounts required to pay principal and interest on transportation related bonds outstanding at June 30 were as follows:

Demand Bonds
Included in general obligation bonds, there are variable rate demand bonds in the amount of $100 million. The bonds were issued in May 1997 to fund various State programs (e.g., community conservation development, economic development and manufacturing assistance, regional economic development, etc.) and will mature in the year 2014. Starting in the year 2005, the bonds will be subject to mandatory annual redemption in the principal amount of $10 million plus accrued interest (these amounts are included in the debt service schedule). Concerning the issuance of the bonds, the State signed various agreements, including a "Remarketing Agreement" with a broker/dealer firm and a "Standby Bond Purchase Agreement" with a foreign bank.

The bonds bear interest at a weekly rate or at a flexible rate for a flexible rate period, which cannot be longer than 270 days. Initially, all bonds bear interest at the weekly rate. After that, the bonds may be converted from time to time to the flexible rate or weekly rate at the option of the State. The State's remarketing agent determines the weekly or flexible rate and applicable flexible rate period.

Bonds bearing interest at the weekly rate are subject to purchase at the option of the holder at a purchase price equal to principal and accrued interest, if any, on a minimum seven days' notice and delivery to the State's agent. In addition, all bonds are subject to mandatory purchase upon (1) conversion from the weekly rate to the flexible rate or vice versa, (2) the end of each flexible rate period, and (3) expiration or substitution of the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement. The State's remarketing agent is responsible for using its best efforts to remarket bonds properly tendered for purchase.

The Standby Bond Purchase Agreement requires the bank to purchase bonds tendered and not remarketed in an amount not to exceed the principal on the bonds plus (for bonds bearing interest at the weekly rate) accrued interest up to 35 days at an annual interest rate not to exceed 15%. Bonds purchased by the bank will bear an interest rate initially equal to (1) for bonds held for up to 30 days after the purchase date, the Federal funds rate plus .50%; (2) for bonds held for more than 30 days but less than 90 days after the purchase date, the Federal rate plus 1.00%; and (3) for bonds held for more than 90 days after the purchase date, the higher of (a) the base commercial lending rate announced from time to time by the bank, or (b) the Federal funds rate plus .50%.

The State is required under the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement to pay to the bank a quarterly fee of .065% per annum of the available commitment as of each payment date. The available commitment is an amount equal to the sum of the bond principal and accrued interest that the bank is committed to purchase under the agreement. Such amount was initially set in the agreement at $101.4 million and is adjusted from time to time according to provisions in the agreement. If the rating on the bonds were to fall below certain levels, or be withdrawn or suspended, the bank fee could go as high as .135% per annum.

The Standby Bond Purchase Agreement expires in the year 2002 and could be extended annually for another year. If certain events of default described in the agreement were to occur, the agreement could be terminated prior to that date.

Expendable Trust Fund Obligations
In July, August, and September 1993, the State issued $1,020.7 million of Special Assessment Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund revenue bonds. The issuance of these special obligation revenue bonds was for the purpose of repaying loans made by the United States to Connecticut for payment of unemployment compensation benefits and assisting the State in meeting a portion of its unemployment compensation benefit obligations until increased employer assessments are levied. These bonds mature on various dates through 2001 and bear interest rates from 3.1% to 5.5% and shall be payable solely from the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund and revenues and requisitional funds specifically pledged for their payment.

The State has no contingent obligation either directly or indirectly with the payment of these bonds.

Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on special assessment unemployment compensation bonds were as follows:

On November 1996, the State issued $100 million of Second Injury Fund special assessment revenue bonds. The bonds were issued to reduce long-term liabilities of the fund by settling claims on a one-time lump sum basis. The bonds bear fixed interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 6.00% and mature each year at various amounts through the year 2012, starting on January 1 of 1998. Because the bonds will be paid solely from future assessment revenue of the fund, the State has no contingent obligation either directly or indirectly for the payment of such bonds.

Future amounts needed to pay principal and interest on Second Injury Fund special assessment revenue bonds were as follows:

Additionally, the bond indenture allows for the periodic issuance of subordinated Bond Anticipation Notes (BANS) in the form of commercial paper. In June 1997, $40 million of commercial paper was issued, bearing an interest rate of 3.55% and maturing on August 1997. The State intends on replacing these BANs with long-term bonds in the future, and has entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement that ensures that the BANs can be refinanced on a long-term basis.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements
The State has entered into interest rate swap agreements for the following outstanding debt:

Based on these agreements, the State pays a fixed interest rate to the counterparty to the swap, and the counterparty pays the State a variable interest rate that is determined by the agreement. The State continues to make payments to the bondholders, and only the net difference in interest payments is exchanged with the counterparty. By entering into these agreements, the State has in effect exchanged its variable rate liability for a fixed rate obligation.

The agreements call for the following exchange of interest rates:

* The primary fixed income index reference rates used in the Euro markets. Most international floating rates are quoted as LIBOR plus or minus spread.

Regarding these agreements, the State is exposed to the market risk relating to the relationship between the variable interest rate on the bonds (which is reset weekly) and the rate that it receives under the swap agreements (which is 65% of 1-month LIBOR).

Both agreements are guaranteed by the counterparties, and the agreement with AIG Corp. has a collateral agreement which goes into effect if the credit rating of AIG falls below a defined level.

Revenue Bonds
Revenue bonds are those bonds that are paid out of resources pledged in the enterprise funds, nonexpendable trust funds, higher education funds, and component units. Revenue bonds outstanding at June 30 were as follows:

Revenue bonds issued by the component units do not constitute a liability or debt of the State, and the State is only contingently liable for these bonds as discussed in this section.

The following is a description of revenue bonds with restrictive covenants:

Primary Government:
Bradley International Airport's revenue bonds were issued in 1982 in the amount of $100,000 to finance costs of improvements to the airport. As of June 30, 1997, the following bonds were outstanding:

1. Airport revenue refunding bonds in the amount of $84,210. These bonds were issued in October, 1992, to redeem the 1982 revenue bonds, and are secured by and payable solely from the gross operating revenues generated by the State from the operations of the airport and other receipts, funds or monies pledged in the bond indenture. In accordance with this indenture, certain assets of this fund have been restricted for the payment of bond principal and interest, construction projects and other uses.
2. Airport subordinated refunding bonds in the amount of $3,510. These bonds were issued in 1989 to help pay for certain expenses (e.g. issuance costs, redemption premium) incurred in the issuance of the 1992 refunding bonds.

In 1994, the State of Connecticut issued Clean Water Fund revenue bonds in the amount of $325,245. The proceeds of these bonds are to be used to provide funds to make loans to Connecticut municipalities for use in connection with the financing or refinancing of waste water treatment projects.

Component Units
Connecticut Development Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance such projects as the acquisition of land or the construction of buildings, and purchase and installation of machinery, equipment, and pollution control facilities. The Authority finances these projects through its Self-Sustaining Bond Program and Umbrella Program. Under the Umbrella Program, bonds outstanding at June 30, 1997, were $72,235. Assets totaling $76,270 are pledged under the terms of the bond resolution for the payment of principal and interest on these bonds until such time as it is determined that there are surplus funds as defined in the bond resolution. Bonds issued under the Self-Sustaining Bond Program are discussed in the no-commitment debt section. In addition, the Authority had $61,340 in general obligation bonds outstanding at year end. These bonds were issued to finance the lease of an entertainment/sports facility, the purchase of a hockey team, and the construction of a music amphitheatre.

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance the purchase, development and construction of housing for low and moderate income families and persons throughout the State. According to the bond resolution, the following assets of the Authority are pledged for the payment of the bond principal and interest (1) the proceeds from the sale of bonds, (2) all mortgage repayments with respect to longterm mortgage and construction loans financed from the Authority's general fund, and (3) all monies and securities of the Authority's general and capital reserve funds. In addition, all assets of the Authority's general and capital reserve funds ($3,177,036) are restricted until such time as they are determined to be "surplus funds." The bond resolution describes "surplus funds" as being the excess of pledged receipts over funds required for the payment of operating expenses, principal and interest and requirements of the capital reserve fund during the most recent twelve months as determined annually between November 12 and December 1 and designated as such by the Authority.

Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority's revenue bonds are issued to finance the design, development and construction of resources recovery and recycling facilities and landfills throughout the State. These bonds are paid solely from the revenues generated from the operations of the projects and other receipts, accounts and monies pledged in the bond indentures.

Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority's revenue bonds are issued to provide loans to students, their parents, and institutions of higher education to assist in the financing of the cost of higher education. These loans are issued through the Authority's Bond fund. According to the bond resolutions, the Authority internally accounts for each bond issue in separate funds, and additionally, the Bond fund includes individual funds and accounts as defined by each bond resolution.

Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority's revenue bonds are issued to assist certain health care institutions, institutions of higher education and qualified for-profit and not-for-profit institutions in the financing and refinancing of projects to be undertaken in relation to programs for these institutions. The Authority generally holds title to, or has first mortgages on, the buildings and related facilities financed by the bonds. The terms of the lease, mortgage and loan payments receivable from the institutions correspond to the amortization requirements of related bonds payable. On final payment of a bond issue, the title to or security interest in the building and related facilities reverts to the institution. Prior to July 1, 1979, the Authority issued general obligation bonds for which the Authority is ultimately responsible for the payment of principal and interest when due. After July 1, 1979, the Authority has issued only special obligation bonds for which the principal and interest is payable solely from the revenues of the institutions. At year end, the Authority had $10,595 and $2,378,080 in outstanding general obligation and special obligation bonds, respectively.

Each Authority has established special capital reserve funds which secure all the outstanding bonds of the Authority at year end (except as discussed below). These funds are usually maintained at an amount equal to next year's bond debt service requirements. The State may be contingently liable to restore any deficiencies that may exist in the funds in any one year in the event that the Authority is unable to do so. For the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, bonds outstanding at year end in the amount of $305,283 and $254,610, respectively, were secured by the special capital reserve funds.

At June 30, 1997, two nursing homes were in receivership and had defaulted on their loan payments to the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA). These loan payments were to be used by CHEFA to make scheduled principal and interest payments on $60,645 of its outstanding special obligation bonds, which are secured by the special capital reserve funds. It is unknown at this time what the loss to the State will be as a result of the loan defaults. However, the State has appropriated $4,000 to be advanced to the nursing homes for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds in fiscal years 1998 and 1999.

Future amounts required to pay principal and interest on revenue bonds outstanding at June 30, 1997, were as follows:

No-commitment Debt
Under the Self-Sustaining Bond Program, the Connecticut Development Authority issues revenue bonds to finance such projects as described previously in the component units section. These bonds are paid solely from payments received from participating companies (or from proceeds of sale of the specific projects in the event of default) and do not constitute a debt or liability of the Authority or the State. Thus, the balances and activity of the Self-Sustaining Bond Program are not included in the Authority's financial statements. Total bonds issued at June 30, 1997 were $59.0 million.

The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority has issued several bonds to fund the construction of waste processing facilities by independent contractors/operators. These bonds are payable from a pledge of revenues derived primarily under lease or loan agreements between the Authority and the operators. Certain of these bonds are secured by letters of credit. The Authority does not become involved in the construction activities or the repayment of the debt (other than the portion allocable to Authority purposes). In the event of default, payment of the debt is not guaranteed by the Authority or the State except for the State's contingent liability discussed below. Thus, the assets and liabilities related to these bond issues are not included in the Authority's financial statements. Total bonds outstanding at June 30, 1997 were $333.7 million bearing interest rates ranging from 3.8% to 8.625%. Of this amount, $167.8 million was secured by a special capital reserve fund. The State may be contingently liable for any deficiencies in the fund as explained previously in the component units section.

Debt Refundings
During the year, the State advance refunded the following bonds (amounts in million).

The proceeds of the refunding bonds were used to purchase U.S. Government securities, which were deposited in an irrevocable trust with an escrow agent to provide for all future payments on the refunded bonds. Thus, the refunded bonds are considered to be defeased and the liability for those bonds has been removed from the general long-term debt account group.

The State advance refunded these bonds to reduce its total debt service payments over the next ten years by $7.0 million and to obtain an economic gain (difference between the present values of the debt service payments of the old and new bonds) of $5.1 million. As of June 30, 1997, $1,888.4 million of outstanding general obligation, special tax obligation, and revenue bonds (including prior year's refundings) are considered defeased.

Note Payable
An installment note for $12.3 million to acquire a telecommunication system was established between the University of Connecticut and Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. in 1988 with an interest rate of 7.55% and final maturity in April 1999. Future amounts required to pay principal and interest on the note outstanding were as follows:

Back to General Purpose Financial Statements Table of Contents
Back to Comptroller's Home Page