Types of Bonds

City staff follows guidance from the Financial Management Policy Statements in making recommendations for funding of capital projects from the issuance of debt. The policy statements, adopted by Resolution No. 22-22 after extensive review by City Council, address affordability, debt capacity and direction on how to handle projects that are not affordable within the Five Year CIP. If projects cannot be included in the Five Year CIP within estimated funding capacity, then they are placed on an unfunded project list and can be considered for a future General Obligation bond election.

In the table below is a list of the bond amounts planned based on the approved FY23 budget and CIP.

FY23 Planned Bond Issues

Bond Type Amount  Repayment Source
Certificates of Obligation
$6,410,200
Airport Revenues
General Obligation Bonds
$29,030,000
Property Taxes
TWDB GO/CO Bonds
$4,000,000
Property Taxes
Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds
$16,504,000
Utility Revenues

Tax-Backed Bonds

General Obligation Bonds (GO’s)

GO bonds are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the City, meaning that the City will use its taxation power to generate the revenue to pay back the bond under any circumstances.  The funding source for GO bond payments is property taxes, which are generated each year based on the tax adopted set by City Council. GO bonds require voter approval before they can be issued, so a bond election is called by the City Council when the City determines that it needs to get voter approval to issue GO bonds.  GO bonds can only be used to fund the projects authorized in the propositions approved by the voters. 

In November 2019, voters authorized four propositions for Drainage, Public Safety and Facilities, Streets & Drainage, and Animal Shelter totaling $90.76 million.

Certificates of Obligation (CO’s)

CO’s are similar to GO bonds, except that they do not require voter approval before they are issued.  The CO’s are also guaranteed by the City’s taxation power and are counted in the calculation of the tax rate that is needed to support debt payments.  

Before the City can issue CO’s, the City Council approves a resolution stating the City’s intent to issue the certificates.  A notice must be published in the newspaper at least 45 days prior to the sale date that states the maximum amount to be issued, what the proceeds will be used for, and the date and time of the planned sale, along with additional information about the City’s currently outstanding debt obligations.

 

Other Types of Bonds

The bonds listed below do not require voter approval, as they are supported by sources other than property taxes.

Utility Revenue Bonds

The City issues Water and Sewer System Revenue Bonds to finance capital projects and improvements related to the City’s water, wastewater and surface water system. This type of bond is referred to as a Utility Revenue Bond as the debt payments are funded through fees charged to the customers of the water system.  

Some Certificates of Obligation were issued by the City to finance construction of the City’s Surface Water Treatment Plant and related distribution lines and water plant upgrades.  While these bonds are CO’s, the repayment is funded 100% from fees charged to water system customers and participants in the City’s Groundwater Reduction Plan. By issuing CO’s in 2011, which were refunded with GO bonds in 2017,the City benefits from the "AAA" rating on those bonds, saving customers money.  

Airport Bonds or CO’s

Sugar Land Regional Airport is operated as an enterprise fund- meaning that the operations are supported by fees charged to users of the airport. The airport receives no direct support from property taxes.  Debt issued for projects at the airport can be financed as either a CO or an Airport Revenue Bond- both are repaid from revenues from the airport and not property taxes. The City has historically issued CO’s for the airport as it was not large enough to support its own revenue bond.

Economic Development Sales Tax Bonds

The City issues Sales Tax Revenue Bonds for projects that are qualified for funding from this legally restricted revenue stream.  The City has a total 1/2 cent of sales tax for economic development that is split equally between the Sugar Land Development Corporation (SLDC) and the Sugar Land 4B Corporation (SL4B).  Payments on the Sales Tax Revenue Bonds are supported by the economic development sales taxes that were approved by voters in 1993 and 1995.  

Projects that have been funded by Sales Tax Revenue Bonds include:

  • Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
  • Sugar Land Town Square- public infrastructure and parking
  • Sugar Land Conference Center
  • Sugar Land Regional Airport- expansion
  • Constellation Field- baseball stadium and parking
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science- Sugar Land 
  • Imperial Park - softball complex and park improvements

    For more information on the corporations, please visit the Economic Development page.