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File #: 23-0228    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Commercial Paper Status: Passed
File created: 12/29/2022 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 1/10/2023 Final action: 1/10/2023
Title: Request for approval of an order amending Orders authorizing the issuance of Harris County, Texas, General Obligation Commercial Paper Notes, Series B and D and General Obligation Unlimited Tax Commercial Paper Notes, Series C. The foregoing Order includes authorization of the engagement of Note Counsel pursuant to an engagement letter under which Harris County will obtain specialized legal services in connection with the amendments of the above-mentioned Orders, based on the demonstrated competence and qualifications of such firm; finding that (i) such legal services require specialized expertise and experience in municipal finance, federal tax law and federal and state securities laws and therefore cannot be adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the County, (ii) such legal services cannot be reasonably obtained from attorneys in private practice under a contract providing for the payment of hourly fees without contingency because the County will not be obligated to pay any legal fees until the successful closing of the contemplated transaction and (iii) entering into contingent fee contracts for legal services is in the best interest of the residents of the County because such firm will only be paid in the event that the contemplated transactions are completed and successfully closed.
Attachments: 1. Amending Order - Series B, C and D.pdf

Department: Management and Budget

Department Head/Elected Official: Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Commercial Paper

 

Project ID (if applicable): N/A

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A

 

MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request for approval of an order amending Orders authorizing the issuance of Harris County, Texas, General Obligation Commercial Paper Notes, Series B and D and General Obligation Unlimited Tax Commercial Paper Notes, Series C. The foregoing Order includes authorization of the engagement of Note Counsel pursuant to an engagement letter under which Harris County will obtain specialized legal services in connection with the amendments of the above-mentioned Orders, based on the demonstrated competence and qualifications of such firm; finding that (i) such legal services require specialized expertise and experience in municipal finance, federal tax law and federal and state securities laws and therefore cannot be adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the County, (ii) such legal services cannot be reasonably obtained from attorneys in private practice under a contract providing for the payment of hourly fees without contingency because the County will not be obligated to pay any legal fees until the successful closing of the contemplated transaction and (iii) entering into contingent fee contracts for legal services is in the best interest of the residents of the County because such firm will only be paid in the event that the contemplated transactions are completed and successfully closed.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

On November 8, 2022, Harris County voters approved all three bonds’ propositions: $100 million for public safety facilities, $900 million for road and $200 million bonds for parks, a total of $1.2 billion which increases the bond authority available for the County.  At this time, the County wishes to amend the CP, Series B, C and D orders to include the 2022 voted authority.

 

Expected Impact:

Series B, C and D notes will be issued to finance projects pursuant to the 2022 voted authority. The notes will be refunded with bonds later on to restore CP capacity.

 

 

Alternative Options:

To issue bonds to finance projects pursuant to the 2022 voted authority.

 

 

Alignment with Goal(s):

_ Justice and Safety

_ Economic Opportunity

_ Housing

_ Public Health

_ Transportation

_ Flooding

_ Environment

_ Governance and Customer Service

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location:

Address (if applicable): N/A

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

Commercial Paper

 

FY 23

FY 24

Next 3 FYs

Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions)

Labor Expenditures

$

$

$

Non-Labor Expenditures

$

$

$

Total Incremental Expenditures

$

$

$

Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions)

Existing Budget

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Total Current Budget

$

$

$

Additional Budget Requested

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Requested

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$

$

$

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

Additional Positions Requested

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: January 10, 2023

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): January 31, 2023

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item

Contact(s) name, title, department: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget

Attachments (if applicable): Order