U.S. PUBLIC FINANCE
CREDIT OPINION
10 February 2016
Wasatch County School District, UT
New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School
District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
New Issue
Summary Rating Rationale
Contacts
Travis George
Analyst
[email protected]
415-274-1715
MIS
Samuel Feldman
+1 415 274 1706
Associate Analyst
[email protected]
Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aa3 underlying rating to Wasatch County School
District, Utah's Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2016, expected to be issued
in the amount of $57 million. The bonds will also receive the Aaa enhancement rating of the
Utah School District Bond Guaranty Program. Concurrently, Moody's affirms the Aa3 rating
on the district's parity general obligation bonds outstanding in the amount of $52.2M.
The Aa3 underlying rating reflects the district's moderately sized tax base, healthy reserve
levels, and the strength of the general obligation pledge in Utah. The rating also incorporates
the average wealth levels, an elevated debt burden and the somewhat volatile tax base.
The Aaa enhanced rating is based upon the assumption that the bonds will be backed by
the State of Utah's School District Bond Guaranty Program. Under this program, the State
of Utah's (Aaa GO rating with stable outlook) full faith and credit guarantees debt service
payments by transfer of the state's general funds to the paying agent in the event of a
payment shortfall for the district.
Credit Strengths
»
Healthy reserves provide adequate financial flexibility
»
General obligation pledge in Utah secured by statute
Credit Challenges
»
Elevated debt burden compared to similarly rated districts
»
Tax base is somewhat volatile
Rating Outlook
Outlooks are not typically assigned to issuers with this amount of debt outstanding.
Factors that Could Lead to an Upgrade
»
Sustained trend of material growth in reserves
»
Significant improvement in socioeconomic factors
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE
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Factors that Could Lead to a Downgrade
»
Significant deterioration in the district's financial position
»
Extended decline in the district's tax base or local economy
Key Indicators
Exhibit 1
Source: Moody's Investors Service
Recent Developments
Recent developments are incorporated in the Detailed Rating Considerations.
Detailed Rating Considerations
Economy and Tax Base
Located approximately 60 miles southeast of Salt Lake City (Aaa GOULT rating), and 30 miles east of the city of Provo (Aa1 GOULT
rating), the district serves a population of 27,714 in Wasatch County (Aa2 GOULT rating). The district's boundaries are coterminous
with the county and include the incorporated cities of Heber and Midway. Many residents of the county commute to employers in
Summit County and the counties that comprise the Wasatch Front (Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties). Major employers in
the county include government organizations as well as businesses related to the retail, hospitality and construction industries.
2015 full value was higher than national medians for similarly rated districts at $4.9 billion. From 2011 to 2013 assessed value (AV)
declined a total of nearly 20% before increasing a combined 14% from 2014 to 2016. In addition, AV is not concentrated as the ten
largest taxpayers comprise only 5.4% of AV, although nearly all are related to real estate development. The district benefits from the
prevalence of second homes (approximately 32% of AV).
Wealth levels are average for similarly rated districts in Utah and nationally. Median family income is 109.4% of the US median. Full
value per capita is much higher at $184,454, which reflects the large number of second homes that contribute to the taxable base but
do not add population. Unemployment in November 2015 was 3.2% for the county, which was slightly higher than the 3.1% rate in
Utah but lower than the 5.0% US unemployment rate.
This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on
www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.
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Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
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We believe the district's tax base will continue to expand as additional development occurs. In the first 11 months of 2015, 437 new
dwelling units were developed in Wasatch County, which is 2.9 times more units than were developed in 2012, the lowest point in
recent years. Overall, the district's tax base is a strength within its credit profile, and we expect it to remain as such.
Financial Operations and Reserves
The district's financial operations are expected to remain healthy, and reserves are expected to increase as state funding improves and
the board demonstrates its willingness to raise property tax revenue. The district relies more on property tax revenues than other Utah
school districts, with General Fund operations primarily supported by enrollment-based state aid (50.4%), followed closely by property
taxes (43%) and federal revenues (5.6%). The district has held Truth in Taxation hearings, as required by state law, in order to capture
additional revenues from tax base growth, and the district intends to hold the hearings again in the fall to increase property tax revenue
for fiscal 2017.
Enrollment for the district has been growing, with five-year average annual growth of 4.3%, for total enrollment in fiscal 2016 of 6,286.
Enrollment has not decreased in the district in at least 20 years, and enrollment growth has been accelerating in recent years as the
district's population grows. The district has been successful in planning for enrollment growth, and the current issuance is expected
to meet enrollment growth for the next few years. At the current debt and full value levels, the district has additional debt-issuance
capacity under state limits if enrollment growth continues to accelerate.
The district ended fiscal 2015 with a small operating funds deficit of $1.1 million (2.2% of revenues). This was due in part to one-time
expenditures for technology and related investments to bring digital devices to all students in grades five through twelve. The board
has publicly committed to increasing tax revenue in future years to ensure on-going funding for these initiatives.
The district has healthy reserves that have been largely stable over the past several years. The available fund balance in the operating
funds, which includes the General and Debt Service funds, was a satisfactory $8.1 million, or 16.3% of operating revenues. This is
somewhat stronger than similarly rated districts nationally and in Utah. The district does not have a formal fund balance policy,
however the board has expressed a desire to return the fund balance to prior levels. An increase and maintenance of reserves at or
above 20% of revenues could lead to positive pressure on the rating.
LIQUIDITY
The district has adequate liquidity compared to similarly rated districts in the state and nationally. Operating funds had a strong net
cash balance of $10.5 million, or 21.3% of operating funds revenue, which is a slight decrease from prior levels of approximately 30%
of revenues. General Fund net cash was 17.6% of revenues, which is also slightly lower than previous years. Similar to the outlook for
the fund balance, the district expects to increase these measures as it increases tax collections in future years.
Debt and Pensions
The district has a manageable debt profile which consists entirely of general obligation bonds. Total debt after this issuance is $109.2
million, which represents 2.2% of full value, or 2.2-times operating revenues. This represents a modestly elevated debt burden
compared to similarly rated districts in the state and nationally. After this issuance, the district does not have additional debt issuance
plans.
We expect measures of debt burden to improve over the next few years as the taxable base increases, the district's enrollment grows,
and the debt is retired. If no additional debt is issued over the next few years, the decreasing debt burden will be credit positive for the
district.
DEBT STRUCTURE
The district's debt consists only of fixed-rated obligations. Payout of all debt is somewhat slower than average at 66.8% paid in 10
years, however the debt matches the useful life of the assets. Debt service is level over the life of the bonds, which fully mature in
2036.
DEBT-RELATED DERIVATIVES
The district has no debt-related derivatives.
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Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
U.S. PUBLIC FINANCE
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PENSIONS AND OPEB
The district participates in the Utah Retirement System (URS), a cost-sharing multiple-employer, defined benefit retirement plan
sponsored by the state. Moody's three-year adjusted net pension liability (ANPL) for the district is average at 2.24% of full value and
2.2 times operating revenues. The adjustments are not intended to replace the district's reported liability information, but to improve
comparability with other rated entities. We determined the district's share of liability in proportion to its contributions to the statewide
plan. Moody's ANPL reflects certain adjustments we make to improve comparability of reported pension liabilities. The adjustments are
not intended to replace the district's or URS's reported liability information, but to improve comparability with other rated entities.
Management and Governance
Utah school districts have an institutional framework score of “Aa,” or strong. Revenue predictability is high with support from both
voter and board-approved property taxes, so districts have a moderate ability to raise revenues because they are primarily funded
by the state based on enrollment. Expenses, which primarily consist personnel, are highly predictable. Districts have a moderate
ability to reduce expenditures in response to a decline in revenue because collective bargaining groups are limited and fixed costs are
manageable.
Legal Security
The bonds are secured by the district's full faith, credit and unlimited property tax pledge.
The Utah School District Bond Guaranty Program pledges its full faith and credit to make whole any shortfall in debt service by the
district, if necessary, on a timely basis for payment to bondholders.
Use of Proceeds
The proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used to acquire, construct, furnish and equip an elementary school, a middle school,
and an education/community aquatics center.
Obligor Profile
Wasatch County School District provides educational services to residents in Wasatch County in central Utah. The county's population
of 27,714 is mainly located in and near the cities of Heber and Midway, which are approximately 60 miles southeast of Salt Lake City
and 30 miles east of the city of Provo. The school district's enrollment in 2015-16 is 6,286 students in grades kindergarten through
twelfth in four elementary schools, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school.
Methodology
The principal methodology used in the underlying rating was US Local Government General Obligation Debt published in January 2014.
The principal methodology used in the enhanced rating was US States Rating Methodology published in April 2013. Please see the
Ratings Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Ratings
Exhibit 2
WASATCH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UT
Issue
Rating
General Obligation Bonds, Series 2016
Rating Type
Sale Amount
Expected Sale Date
Rating Description
General Obligation Bonds, Series 2016
Rating Type
Sale Amount
Expected Sale Date
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10 February 2016
Aa3
Underlying LT
$57,000,000
02/17/2016
General Obligation
Aaa
Enhanced LT
$57,000,000
02/17/2016
Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
U.S. PUBLIC FINANCE
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE
Rating Description
General Obligation
Source: Moody's Investors Service
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Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE
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10 February 2016
Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned
U.S. PUBLIC FINANCE
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE
Contacts
Samuel Feldman
Associate Analyst
[email protected]
7
10 February 2016
CLIENT SERVICES
+1 415 274 1706
Travis George
Analyst
[email protected]
415-274-1715
Americas
1-212-553-1653
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852-3551-3077
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81-3-5408-4100
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44-20-7772-5454
Wasatch County School District, UT: New Issue - Moody's assigns Aa3 to Wasatch County School District, UT's GO bonds; Aaa enhanced also assigned