Finance committee highlights fund balance targets and recent bond refinance that could save roughly $9 million
Summary
Committee discussion emphasized maintaining a fund balance (reserve) of at least 60 days to avoid rating penalties, noted ratings agency scrutiny, and reported a recent bond refinancing expected to yield about $9 million in interest savings.
Committee members discussed the district's fund balance and external credit ratings as part of broader budget deliberations. Speaker 2 said the reserve needs to remain at least 60 days (two months). Speaker 1 added that while Texas has no statutory minimum reserve requirement per the discussion, falling below 75 days can hurt financial ratings and below 60 days can hurt them further.
"There are a number of ways we are financially rated by Fitch and all these other those guys…they will be watching expenses. They'll be watching what we do. They'll be watching our fund balance," Speaker 1 said, noting that ratings affect borrowing and refinancing opportunities.
The committee also reported a recent refinancing of district bonds that closed the prior week. Speaker 1 said the refinance reduced the district's interest costs and estimated savings on interest of up to about $9,000,000.
No credit‑rating agency action or change in ratings was recorded at the meeting; the committee discussed ratings as a factor that increases urgency around reserves and expense reductions.
