Johnson County finance staff updated commissioners on two planned debt issuances Tuesday: a general obligation bond sale to fund wastewater and airport improvements and a separate lease-purchase issue through the Public Building Commission (PBC) to fund facilities work.

Leslie Bridal, budget and financial planning, said the county will go to market next Wednesday for bids on general obligation internal improvement bonds (Series 2025A), currently estimated in aggregate at $60,310,000 to finance wastewater and airport improvements. Bridal said rating agencies assigned an "A" rating and noted the county's strong local economy and fund balances. She said the county actually needs to collect approximately $60,863,000 to fund the projects and that the final principal amount will depend on the sale results.

Bridal said the board will be asked to act within 24 hours after the sale to approve the winning bid once bids are returned. "This particular item will be back before you after we do the sale next Wednesday. The sale will get our bids at 11 a.m., and then before 24 hours pass, we need the board to take action that says that they approve the winning bid," Bridal said.

A second presentation covered authorization of PBC lease-purchase revenue bonds (master lease Series 2025A) to cover improvements to county office buildings and the New Century Adult Detention Center. That issuance is now estimated at about $6,485,000 (the CIP amount cited was roughly $6,400,000 with the remainder covering issuance costs and underwriter discount). Bridal said the PBC would place a companion item on its agenda.

Commissioners did not take a final vote on either sale at the agenda-review meeting. Staff told the board it will return after the market sale with the winning bid for formal approval.